Faletolu Caleb Lofipo pleads guilty to extortion, Paul James Casey Saunders pleads guilty to burglary, stealing

A man demanded $500 from a woman known to him in an incident prosecutors said had a ‘backstory’.

A threat to hurt a child unless money was paid was apparently behind a strange offence that was detailed before Ipswich District Court.

The Crown prosecutor told the court there was an apparent “backstory” to the crime that involved Paul Saunders and his friend Faletolu Lofipo when the pair was sentenced this week.

Paul James Casey Saunders, 27, of Rockhampton, appeared from jail via video-link and pleaded guilty to burglary and stealing on September 29, 2020.

Seated in the dock, Faletolu Caleb Lofipo, 27, a scaffolder from Bundamba, pleaded guilty to extortion on September 29, 2020; unlawful use of a motor vehicle used to facilitate an offence.

Crown prosecutor Jacqueline Malouf said Lofipo had already spent eight months in jail and had since been released.

She said Saunders had a lengthy criminal history and was in jail having now served eight months.

Ms Malouf said the serious offences took place at 9.30pm on September 29 last year when two males entered a white Holden Commodore and demanded money.

The court heard a threat was made to hurt the passenger and damage the car.

The passenger gave the intruders the name of a woman and the defendants then drove to a house, where Ms Malouf said the pair went inside and demanded $500 from a woman.

The court heard Saunders had been waiting outside but then entered the house and stole a handbag.

Lofipo’s fingerprints were later detected and Saunders’ activity was captured on CCTV.

Ms Malouf said there had been no physical violence during the incident.

In answer to a question from Judge Dennis Lynch QC as to whether it had been strangers who were targeted, Ms Malouf said the people were all known to each other.

“It’s accepted that there is a bit more of a backstory to this offending,” Ms Malouf said.

She said Saunders faced other charges that included having Subutex, stolen property, and fraudulent use of a card to purchase drinks.

Stephen Kissick, defence barrister for Saunders, said he attended school at Inala but would return to Rockhampton when released.

“He has had difficulty with heroin over a number of years and at times has used methylamphetamine, but not now,” Mr Kissick said.

Mr Kissick said Saunders had not been involved in the incident but then decided to enter the house and took the handbag.

Scott Neaves, defence barrister for Lofipo, said he had five children and this had been the first time he had served significant time in pre-sentence custody.

“He genuinely wants to stop using drugs and instructs that his time in prison has given him significant opportunity to think, reflect on the life choices he has made,” Mr Neaves said.

“He is now more aware of the harm he has caused to people who love him. He is insightful and wants to demonstrate to himself he is a better person.”

Judge Lynch put more Crown prosecution facts on the public record, saying the extortion charge against Lofipo involved a child.

Saunders was sentenced to jail terms totalling two years, with immediate parole.

Lofipo was sentenced to 238 days jail, which was equivalent to the time he had already served, and placed on a supervised 18-month probation order.