Meth dad Benjamin Auld threatens murder suicide in ‘increasingly irrational’ episode

A Kensington Grove man faced Ipswich court after a series of meth-fuelled offences committed in one day – culminating in a murder suicide threat.

A Kensington Grove man’s meth-fuelled and “increasingly irrational” mental health episode landed him in Ipswich court today.

Benjamin Ronald Auld, 42, faced Ipswich District Court on June 16 2022, charged with two counts of common assault, one count of threats, one count of wilful damage and one count of threatening violence.

The court heard that these offences occurred on November 20, 2021, when Auld asked the woman involved if he could use her car.

The woman said she needed to use it herself, and Auld‘s behaviour became increasingly irrational.

He threatened to break something unless she gave him the keys. After the woman handed them over, he assaulted her by throwing the keys at her; they hit her leg but resulted in no injury.

He left in the car but became increasingly aggravated, and damaged the door when he returned to the house.

In a state of distress, Auld further threatened to kill himself and said that if the police came, it would result in a murder suicide.

Auld also used a barbecue tool to threaten the woman verbally, holding it above his head – for which he received the second common assault charge.

The police located Auld later the same day and detected methylamphetamine in his system.

Auld spent the following six months and 27 days in custody while waiting for his court appearance.

On June 16 2022, Auld pleaded guilty to all five charges, and had the support of his family in court.

The court heard that Auld has a relevant criminal history in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales; however, his last substantive offence occurred in 2003, in which he was sentenced to three years imprisonment for offensive arson and multiple vehicle offences.

Judge Dennis Lynch noted that Auld has “mostly stayed out of trouble since” and has made efforts to address his drug addiction.

“Despite a difficult upbringing and circumstances which no doubt led you into a life of crime as a young man, you made a commendable decision as an adult to change your life for the better,” said Judge Dennis Lynch.

Prior to these most recent offences, Auld had suffered significant personal losses and had a drug relapse; he had further stopped taking his medication for depression and bipolar disorder.

“Clearly you were in a distressed state on the day of this offending,” said Judge Lynch.

“Obviously this was a serious episode and it caused alarm for [the woman] and it was protracted over a period of time – but the only real damage you caused was to some of your own property.”

Judge Lynch noted that Auld, having been medicated in custody, understands that his conduct was unacceptable and is genuinely remorseful.

Judge Lynch did not declare Auld’s presentence custody time-served, as he said he “was not satisfied that a sentence of imprisonment was necessary.”

“In addition it would be wrong to impose some other punishment just for the sake of seeing you under supervision,” he said.

Judge Lynch ultimately ordered that Auld be convicted but not further punished.