Luke Anthony Plant: Man who held a woman ‘against her will’ walks free from court

A man has walked free from the Dalby court despite grabbing a woman and forcing her back into his house when she tried to flee, and trying to force her to lie to authorities so he wouldn’t be locked up.

A man who kept a woman prisoner in his home in an attempt to get her to lie to save him from going to jail has walked free from court.

Dalby Magistrates Court heard Luke Anthony Plant was scared of going to jail when he tried to force the woman to write a letter that would absolve him of responsibility over an earlier incident between the two.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said the 32-year-old man stood in front of the door to block her when she attempted to leave the house.

“She attempted to run but she only made it as far as the concrete patio in the backyard,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

“He grabbed her and took her back inside and took her phone, keys, and wallet and locked the doors.”

The court heard the Yuleba father-of-two told the woman, ‘You’ll never leave’.

Sergeant Hutchins said it was unclear at what point he allowed the woman to leave, but said he eventually gave her back her belongings and she left.

Lawyer Claire Graham said the man, who spent 45 days in custody, was undergoing treatment for a brain injury that was the result of an alleged assault from his father.

Magistrate Kerrie O’Callaghan chastised the man for his behaviour.

“You kept her there against her will and you tried to get her to make false declarations,” Ms O’Callaghan said.

“I note there’s mental health issues that need to be addressed that I hope are dealt with upon your release.”

Plant pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of liberty and was sentenced to six months’ jail with immediate parole.