Jesse James McKenzie: Gold Coast stalker who couldn’t accept it was over sentenced

A Gold Coast man threatened and abused a woman, called her 150 times, followed her to Brisbane in his car, and more – all that, and they had only dated a few months before she called it off.

Dated photo of Labrador man Jesse James McKenzie, 34. Picture: X

A menacing Gold Coast stalker who terrorised a woman who only dated him for a few months before calling it off will be released from custody on parole after serving a year behind bars.

Labrador man Jesse James McKenzie, 34, appeared in Southport District Court on Monday, pleading guilty to two counts of stalking in a domestic violence context, one of the counts being aggravated.

The offending was between February 19–March 1 last year, and again a month later on April 2, by which point a temporary domestic violence protection order had been put in place by the Southport Magistrates Court.

Crown prosecutor Darcy Evans told the court the victim and McKenzie met in October 2023 and commenced an intimate relationship, although it only lasted a few months before the woman tried to call it quits.

Dated photo of Labrador man Jesse James McKenzie, now aged 34. Picture: X

On February 20 last year, McKenzie and the woman were having coffee at Westfield Coomera when she received a text from a friend, which McKenzie identified as evidence of cheating.

She left, Mr Evans said, but McKenzie followed her into Kmart and around the centre, abusing her, telling her “life was not worth living,” and threatening to smash her car with a trolley.

Later that day, she noticed his vehicle following hers as she drove her son to soccer, the court was told.

Days later, when she was at the hairdresser, McKenzie bombarded her with calls and threatened to break into her house, slit her throat, the throat of the father of her children, and distribute intimate images of her.

That afternoon, she looked outside the window of her residence and saw him cruising past in his vehicle.

Westfield Coomera, through which McKenzie pursued the woman, berating her. Picture: KOBE Online

Mr Evans said telecommunications records showed between February 19 and March 1, when he was arrested, charged with the first stalking offence, and bailed, he called her 150 times.

Despite the protection order now being in place, on April 2 last year, McKenzie followed the woman’s vehicle all the way from Pimpama to Brisbane, with 34 traffic cameras depicting his own vehicle travelling “close behind” hers, Mr Evans said.

She met a man for coffee at Fortitude Valley, but the engagement was cut short when she saw McKenzie sprinting down Brunswick St calling her a cheater and a wh--e.

She called triple-0 and drove to the nearest police station, but when she parked, McKenzie pulled up right beside her, too close for her to exit.

When she reversed, he did too, blocking her exit again. Eventually she was able to access the station, and McKenzie was arrested.

Judge Katarina Prskalo KC. Picture: Legal Aid Queensland

He has been remanded in custody since for 370 days.

Mr Evans told the court McKenzie’s recent criminal history was “littered with domestic violence offences,” mostly resulting in fines.

He received 100 hours of community service after admitting distributing intimate images of a woman.

Defence counsel James Grehan told the court the year his client had spent on remand “has had a significant deterrent effect on him”.

“He understands if he finds himself in this situation again, the periods of time he will spend in custody will get longer and longer,” Mr Grehan said.

Judge Katarina Prskalo KC sentenced McKenzie, supported in court by his young son, sister, and best friend, to two years’ jail, with immediate court-ordered parole. The sentence took into account 370 days already served.

Originally published as Jesse James McKenzie: Gold Coast stalker who couldn’t accept it was over sentenced