Gemfields man Matthew Jonathan South granted bail in Blackwater Magistrates Court

A Central Queensland man has applied for bail in the Blackwater Magistrates Court after an ongoing feud allegedly resulted in multiple offences. Here’s what happened in court

A man allegedly involved in an ‘ongoing feud’ with fellow residents in his small Central Queensland community has been charged with a string of alleged offences including assault, public nuisance and harassment.

Matthew Jonathan South, 42, appeared via videolink from the Capricornia Correctional Centre on Jun 21 and applied for bail in the Blackwater Magistrates Court pending a later court date for his alleged offences.

Mr South is charged with commit public nuisance, obstruct police, using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence, going armed so as to cause fear, common assault, breach of bail, two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm, possess utensils, or pipes etc. that had been used, and possession of dangerous drugs.

Mr South did not enter pleas for these offences.

The court heard from Police Prosecutor Sergeant Rachel Todd who said Mr South, who had an 11 page criminal history and a traffic history, was in a show cause position in relation to bail.

Lawyer Casey Wilson said Mr South lived in the Gemfields, where the alleged offending took place, and that the majority of these alleged offences were a result of an ongoing feud.

Ms Wilson said that the several people Mr South was fighting with were known to the court.

She argued that her client wasn’t likely to reoffend against these people because some lived in the Gemfields and he was applying to have bail granted to live with his father in Clermont indefinitely.

He father had agreed to the arrangement.

The other person Mr South allegedly offended against was currently incarcerated.

The court heard Mr South had a history of failing to appear but Ms Wilson said he would successfully complete bail if he was given very strict orders.

Sgt Todd said Mr South was likely to commit further offences if he were granted bail, given the nature of his offending and his history.

She believed he was also likely to fail to appear given his past.

The court heard there were photos and CCTV footage of the alleged assaults and the injuries sustained in relation to Mr South’s alleged offences in this case.

Sgt Todd also noted that Mr South was already on bail when he allegedly committed these offences and was not supposed to contact these people, but he did.

Magistrate Rosemary Gilbert said Mr South had a considerable criminal history and based her decision in part on his father’s character reference that was submitted to the court.

Ms Gilbert granted Mr South bail on the conditions he live with his father in Clermont unless he gets prior written consent from the police officer in charge of the Clermont station, he report three times a week to the Clermont police station and he not contact or communicate with any of the alleged victims.

Ms Gilbert adjourned the matter to July, 19 at the Emerald court.