Rodney Michael Adrian Jones pleads guilty to domestic violence offences

A Bundaberg man who ‘tried to self medicate by taking some ice’ stole an external CCTV camera from his victim’s home before sending a woman a chilling message.

A Bundaberg man has appeared in court after he sent a woman a chilling message where he said: “it won’t be long before you’re RIP”.

Rodney Michael Adrian Jones appeared by video link from custody in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to one count of stealing (domestic violence offence), one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence and two counts of wilful damage (domestic violence offence).

The court heard that on July 25 this year, Jones stole an external CCTV camera from his victim’s home, before sending the threatening message.

Senior Sergeant Andrew Powis told the court Jones had a history of like offending, and it was heard he was in prison at the time of his hearing because his most recent offending had breached parole from a 2021 sentence regarding dangerous operation of a vehicle “and numerous other charges”.

Defence lawyer Gavin James told the court his client was upset at aspects of his relationship at the time of his offending and “had tried to self-medicate by taking some ice”.

The court heard Jones, a father of four, was planning to continue drug and alcohol counselling, was hoping to complete a Certificate II in Sport and Recreation and had been approved for work in the prison kitchen.

In sentencing, Magistrate John McInnes said Jones’s early guilty plea had shown regret for his actions.

“You seem to have considerable support in the community and you do seem to have the ability to turn the corner when you choose to,” he said.

Jones was sentenced to nine months’ prison, suspended for 18 months, for the wilful damage and stealing offences.

For the Commonwealth offence of using a carriage service to menace or harass, Jones was fined $300, referred to SPER, with a conviction recorded.