Jason Terrence Stone in court for stalking

A former machine operator and builder’s labourer who stalked a teenager for three months, emailed his school and made a false report to police, among other things. Read what was revealed in court:

A Hervey Bay man with a history of stalking, was sentenced on Friday for stalking a teenager.

Jason Terrence Stone, 50, pleaded guilty in Hervey Bay District Court and was sentenced to two years jail with immediate parole.

Crown prosecutor Kate Droney told the court the stalking consisted of five incidents over about three months, when Stone was 49 years old.

Ms Droney said one incident involved Stone reporting to police the teen had hit him with a car, and another incident involved Stone emailing the teenager’s school and alleging he had committed sex offences.

Stone also approached the teenager outside a Night Owl and yelled at him, and sent him messages on social media which appeared to be “surveilling him at times”, Ms Droney said.

Ms Droney told the court there was no actual violence, or threats of violence.

The court heard Stone had previous criminal history in Queensland and South Australia, which included stalking.

Defence barrister Sarah Farnden said her client, a former machine operator and builder’s labourer, came across the teenager “by chance” at the Night Owl.

He had grown up in Mount Gambier in South Australia, and had one child, she said.

Stone was arrested and had been remanded in custody since January 14, 2022, for other offences, the court heard.

Judge Vicki Loury QC told Stone that as a consequence of his conduct, the teenager was worried for their safety, and concerned about the “false allegations” to their school.

Judge Loury referenced Stone’s letter of apology to the teenager, which she said expressed “remorse” for his offending, and acknowledged the “enormous impact” it had on the teenager.

Stone was given a head sentence of two years jail, with immediate parole.

The 196 days he spent in pre-sentence custody was declared as time served.