John Leird Lucas pleads guilty to assaulting two former partners, and damaging vehicle in string of DV offences

‘Burn your house down’: A Central Queensland man has been paroled after a shocking outburst where he was restrained by strangers while wielding a knife after taking to a car with an axe.

A Central Queensland father subject to multiple domestic-violence orders pleaded guilty to “terrifying” offences that included smashing car windows with an axe, headbutting one woman and putting another victim in a headlock.

John Leird Lucas, 34 pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to two common assault charges, contravening two domestic violence orders, and threatening violence by words and threatening violence by discharge of firearm or other acts, namely a knife.

The court heard the knife-wielding father-of-three was restrained by members of the public before dropping the weapon after they witnessed him making threats towards a woman at a New Auckland address.

John Leird Lucas, 34 was released after serving 61 days imprisonment after he was sentenced in the Gladstone Magistrates Court. Picture: Supplied

Lucas was heard threatening to slash the woman’s car tyres whilst holding a large knife after already smashing his own car windows with an axe.

Witnesses observed Lucas behaving extremely aggressively and screaming the words “you’re a lying dog c--t” in front of children, before restraining him until police arrived.

Police prosecutor Merrilyn Hoskins described the “terrifying ordeal” which took place on the morning of November 11, 2022, and said Lucas’ offending continued later that evening.

Sergeant Hoskins said the same woman who was threatened at the New Auckland address returned after work and was accused of lying about her whereabouts before being pushed to the ground and placed in a headlock.

The court heard “gripping” text messages sent to another woman including threats to burn her house down, blow up her car and “punch her boyfriend’s face in”.

The second common assault (domestic violence) charge, involving a third victim, relates to a January 2022 incident where Lucas became aggressive in front of the woman’s friends.

Lucas was sentenced to 12 months with immediate parole on Wednesday at the Gladstone Court House. Picture: NewsCorp.

The court heard Lucas shoved the victim against a kitchen bench and then headbutted her in the forehead before walking away as if nothing happened, which left her in shock.

Lucas was arrested over the New Auckland incident on November 11, and denied bail after his matter was mentioned in court.

Defence lawyer Rio Ramos told the court her client was extremely remorseful and said his time in custody was a “wake-up call”.

The court heard a portion of a character reference for Lucas that said the longtime mine worker loved his children dearly.

Ms Ramos said his behaviour on November 11 was likely due to an overdose of antidepressant medication and a struggle to manage his ADHD.

In her sentencing remarks, acting magistrate Mary Buchanan referred to domestic violence as “insidious” and said the community will not tolerate such behaviour from perpetrators.

“This is serious offending, it is aggravated conduct in domestic violence relationships with not one, not two, but three complainants,” acting magistrate Buchanan said.

The man was sentenced on Wednesday to 12 months’ jail with immediate parole, after 61 days of pre-sentence custody declared time served.

He was also placed on probation for 12 months and will have to report to Emerald Police Station.