Man allegedly held captive, tortured by fencers on Toowoomba region cattle farm

Two Fraser Coast fencers who were working on a Toowoomba region cattle farm allegedly committed horrific acts of violence against a man. Here’s how he escaped after allegedly being held captive and tortured:

Wade Burton and Ben Diete spent four night’s in the Toowoomba watch house before being granted bail on 13/03/24.

Two Fraser Coast fencing contractors have been released from the Toowoomba Police Station watch house after being arrested for allegedly torturing and holding a man captive on a remote cattle farm.

The men, Wade Robert Burton and Benjamin Paul Diete, were arrested on Saturday, March 9, after a man presented to an emergency room with broken ribs and a brain bleed.

The Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard the alleged victim told hospital staff he had been in a crash because he was scared of the men who allegedly threatened him and his mother.

The alleged protracted assault occurred at a North Maclagan cattle property on March 4, which is about an hour’s drive northwest of Toowoomba, on the outskirts of the Western Downs near the Bunya Mountains.

Wade Burton and Ben Diete spent four night’s in the Toowoomba watch house before being granted bail on 13/03/24.

The court heard Mr Diete, 38, had contracted a fellow fencer from the Maryborough region, Mr Burton, 44, to carry out fencing work on the property.

The alleged victim was not the property owner who employed the men, although the court heard he was staying in a separate dwelling on the property.

Police alleged the fencers tortured and assaulted him with weapons, which included a ratchet strap used as a noose around the man’s neck, as well as a chain.

The court heard the man left the house in a car and was allegedly followed by the men, however they got caught at a fence on the property.

On March 6, police allege the men ran into a neighbour who confronted them about the alleged incident, and he was then threatened with a sledgehammer.

Mr Burton’s lawyer Adam Guest, Director of Guest Lawyers, told the court his client instructed the co-accused to put the weapon down, and said there was no evidence to corroborate the alleged assault victim’s version of events.

Mr Guest told the court he had spoken to the owner of the property and received information that would discredit the alleged victim’s credibility.

Mr Diete was represented by criminal lawyer Nathan Bouchier, managing director of Bouchier Khan Lawyers.

The Toowoomba courthouse, police station, and watch house. Picture: Peta McEachern

Both men are contesting the following charges; torture, depravation of liberty, entering a home with intent using threats of violence, and eight charges of assault occasioning bodily harm while armed in company.

Magistrate Mark Howden released both men on strict bail conditions which included an ankle monitoring bracelet, and prohibited the pair from leaving the Maryborough area.

However, Mr Diete, who is in a long-term relationship with a school principal, has an extra bail condition to complete programs to address his alcohol problem.

A full brief of evidence was ordered to be completed by April 17, 2024.

The case will next be before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on May 1, for a committal mention.

Originally published as Man allegedly held captive, tortured by fencers on Toowoomba region cattle farm