Flashback: Gladstone’s biggest court stories of 2021

As the year comes to an end, we look back at the biggest stories in Gladstone courts in 2021 - the stories that had the most views from you, our readers.

Gladstone’s biggest court stories of 2021.

After Covid-19’s disruptions to court proceedings in 2020, Gladstone Courthouse has been busier than ever this year.

With 2021 coming to an end, we look back at the stories that our readership data shows captured the attention of our audiences the most.

Here is the top 10:

Richard Henry Jessen, 42, pleaded guilty to five dangerous drug charges.

10. Man’s drug operation torn down by police

A man’s suburban marijuana growing operation, which included an insulated grow room, was shut down by Gladstone police who uncovered a swath of drugs at his home.

Richard Henry Jessen, 42, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on December 10 to five drug charges including producing dangerous drugs.

Magistrate Bevan Manthey convicted and sentenced Jessen to 12 months’ probation with a no drug use condition. Convictions were recorded.

Read more here: Man’s drug operation torn down in police raid

Nick Michael Rogers pleaded guilty to six offences.

9. Woman choked twice, bitten during heated argument

A minor argument in a Gladstone pub ended in a horrific ordeal for a woman who was choked by her partner when they got home, a court heard.

Nick Michael Rogers, 31, pleaded guilty in Gladstone District Court in November to six charges including two counts of wilful damage.

Rogers was convicted and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for four years.

He was ordered to pay $5000 restitution to the complainant and convictions were recorded.

Read more about the horrific ordeal: ‘Shocking’: Woman choked twice, bitten after heated pub argument

Cody John Lisle pleaded guilty to sexual assault.

8. Woman sexually assaulted while she slept

A fun night out with friends turned into any woman’s worst nightmare when a man sexually assaulted her while she was trying to sleep.

In March, Cody John Lisle, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault.

Lisle was sentenced to 12 months‘ imprisonment, wholly suspended for two years.

A conviction was recorded.

Read more about the woman’s ordeal here: Man sexually assaults woman while she is drunk, asleep

Aaron Demos was sentenced in the Gladstone Magistrates Court.

7. Man jailed after violently assaulting neighbour

When Aaron Demos found out his neighbour had not returned his father’s spanner set, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

Demos, 29, pleaded guilty in Gladstone District Court in September to two charges which arose from the incident - burglary and assault occasioning bodily harm.

Demos was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment with a parole release date of December 6, 2021.

Read more about the brutal ordeal here: ‘Mindless, stupid violence’: Man bashes neighbour with spanner

6. Man avoids jail after “creating demand” for child exploitation material

A Gladstone man was accused of “creating demand” for child exploitation material after a police search warrant uncovered a vile stash on his phone, a court heard.

Scott Thomas Sweeney, 34, pleaded guilty in Gladstone District Court in November to possessing child exploitation material and distributing child exploitation material.

Sweeney was convicted and sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for two years.

He was also placed on a two-year probation order and convictions were recorded.

Read more here: Central Qld child sex offender’s sick stash uncovered in police raid

5. Man browsed cartoon child porn while bored, high

A man told police he searched for child pornography images when either bored or high on methamphetamine, a court heard.

Jessie John Allwood-Beling, 25, pleaded guilty in Gladstone District Court in November to two counts of using a carriage service to access child pornography material, using a carriage service to access child abuse material and possessing child exploitation material.

Allwood-Beling was convicted and sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for three years.

Read more here: 2,856 vile images: Man browsed child porn while bored, high on meth

4. Man jailed after sickening assault of senior police officer

Aaron Andrew Channel launched an incredibly violent assault on a police officer, which ended up endangering his life.

Channel, 24, pleaded guilty to five charges in the Gladstone District Court in September including serious assault of a police officer causing bodily harm and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle while adversely intoxicated.

Channel was convicted and sentenced to a head sentence of four and a half years’ imprisonment, with a parole release date of May 26, 2022. Convictions were recorded.

Read about the repercussions of his actions: ‘Changed my life forever’: Near fatal attack has devastating impact on cop

Sean Richard Watson, 26, pleaded guilty to six charges including burglary in company.

3. Man’s sickening assault of father detailed in court

A Gladstone man was jailed for his involvement in a meth-induced crime spree which included a carjacking and horrifying home invasion.

Sean Richard Watson, 26, pleaded guilty in the Gladstone District Court in July to six charges including robbery in company with personal violence, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, burglary in company, robbery in company with personal violence, deprivation of liberty and possessing a dangerous drug.

Watson was convicted and sentenced to five years and eight months’ imprisonment, with a parole eligibility date of May 2, 2023.

Get the facts here: Carjacking, home invasion: Meth addict’s reign of terror

2. “I felt unsafe”: Man raped Dutch au pair

A Gladstone man raped a Dutch au pair while she slept, after a night of drinking.

The man, 45, pleaded not guilty in Gladstone District Court in July to one count of rape.

After a three-day trial, a jury found the man guilty and he was convicted and sentenced to six years’ imprisonment.

He will be eligible for parole in 2024.

Find out how he was sentenced here: Man jailed after raping au pair while she slept

1. Woman jailed after having sex with disabled man

A disability support worker who lured an intellectually disabled man in her care into having unprotected sex with her twice, was jailed.

Katrina Louise Harrington, 39, pleaded guilty in Gladstone District Court in September to two counts of unlawful carnal knowledge of a person with an impairment of the mind, part way through a trial.

She had initially pleaded not guilty but changed her plea after the prosecution presented its case.

Harrington was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment with 16 months of actual incarceration, with the rest suspended for five years.

Find out more here: ‘Shameful’: Carer’s vile manipulation of disabled man for sex