Aaron Delamere: Man sentenced in Ipswich District Court for threatening to kill ex-wife

A woman has asked an Ipswich court to “show leniency” in sentencing her ex-husband after he called her 36 times and sent her a barrage of text messages threatening to kill her.

A woman was left fearing for her life after her ex-husband and the father of her children called her more than 30 times threatening to stab and shoot her, a court has heard.

Aaron Delamere, 50, appeared in Ipswich District Court on Thursday May 26, where he pleaded guilty to one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass, or cause offence.

The court heard he was 49 and separated from his ex-wife when he called her 36 times and sent her 10 text messages telling her he was going to stab and shoot her.

All of the offending occurred within a 4.5-hour window on the evening of May 11 last year.

Crown Prosecutor Tom O’Brien said police attended Delamere’s residence where they observed him on the phone to his ex-wife.

“Of most concern are the threats made to shoot and to cause harm not only to himself but to the complainant,” Mr O’Brien said.

“He admitted he had a gun and was prepared to shoot the complainant.”

Despite what he told his ex-wife over the phone, both the prosecution and defence agreed on Thursday that he was not found to be in possession of a gun.

Mr O’Brien said Delamere was arrested and made some admissions to police but declined to participate in a recorded interview with police.

A victim impact statement tendered to the court described how the woman felt “fearful” both at the time of the offending and later, even going so far as to ask her family members to move in with her as a safety precaution.

Yet she also said that his absence over the 55 days he spent in presentence custody had been “detrimental” to her and her family. She indicated she had “forgiven” him and asked that the judge grant him leniency.

Delamere’s counsel Chris Minnery said that while his client did not participate in a formal interview with police, he did own up to what he had done and pleaded early, thereby demonstrating his remorse.

The court heard Delamere was married to his ex-wife, the complainant in the matter, for 32 years and shared three children with her.

He was born in New Zealand but moved to Australia with his family in 1988, working in the trucking business since he was 14 years old.

Mr Minnery said Delamere “very deeply” regretted the “incredibly stupid” things he said and did to the mother of his children and explained his actions stemmed from the financial and personal stress he was under at the time.

“My client instructs that he has personally apologised to the complainant, the complainant’s been good enough to accept that apology, and they actually enjoy quite a good relationship at the moment,” Mr Minnery said.

He said Delamere now works up to 100 hours per week supporting two households — his own, which he shares with his new partner, and that of his ex-wife and her new partner.

Judge Amanda McDonnell considered a number of factors in arriving at sentence, including Delamere’s early plea of guilty, the worrying nature of his behaviour, his limited criminal history, his glowing character references, and his strong work history.

She also noted the efforts he had made to manage his emotions after the offending.

Delamere was sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment with release after 55 days, upon the giving of $500 recognisance.

Ms McDonnell also ordered that he be of good behaviour for 15 months and declared the time he spent in presentence custody time served.