Shannon Albert Percival Jackson avoids jail for stalking ex in Toowoomba
A man who stalked his ex-partner for almost half a year has walked free after he was sentenced in Toowoomba Supreme Court.
A Darling Downs man with an extensive criminal history relating to domestic violence has pleaded guilty to stalking his former partner.
Toowoomba Supreme Court was told the serious crime marked an escalation in Shannon Albert Percival Jackson’s criminal behaviour, which had begun “in earnest” in 2021.
Before the court on Friday, September 19, the 43-year-old Toowoomba man pleaded guilty to an aggravated offence of stalking.
Crown prosecutor Hamish McIntyre said Jackson stalked the woman for about five months from late 2023 to early 2024.
“The seriousness of the conduct involved, it was restricted to abusive messages … that he was following her,” he said.
“It didn’t extend to actual violence of a physical sort.
“He repeatedly called the (woman) a number of insults, one more commonly than another.”
Mr McIntyre said Jackson’s behaviour had a significant and ongoing impact on the woman.
The details of Jackson’s abuse were not read onto the record during the open court proceedings by the prosecution or the presiding judge.
Barrister Daniel Boddice, represented by McConnell and Saldumbide criminal lawyers, also did not read his submission into the record and relied on his written submissions.
The court was told that over the past 18 months, Jackson had “restrained himself” from committing further acts of domestic violence and that during that time frame, he had reduced his drinking.
Justice Martin Byrnes told the father his behaviour was shameful, and urged him to continue with his rehabilitation for the benefit of his former partner, the community, and himself.
Justice Byrnes said one mitigating feature of his sentence was that Jackson had stable employment, which was described as his “happy place,” as well as his lack of recent offending, and new-found insight into his substance abuse.
He said if Jackson were to serve time in custody, it could send him spiralling backwards.
Jackson was sentenced to an 18-month jail term, with immediate parole.
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Originally published as Shannon Albert Percival Jackson avoids jail for stalking ex in Toowoomba
