Bradley James Rowsell: Dispute between old friends ends in bloody knife attack at Rosewood, Ipswich

A dispute between old friends has culminated in a “terrifying” and bloody attack during which a man was stabbed in his own home.

An Ipswich man was left with a bloodied and wounded hand after a “terrifying” incident in his own home, during which a former friend gained entry, shouted threats, and stabbed him repeatedly with a knife, a court has heard.

Bradley James Rowsell, 45, from Rosewood appeared in Ipswich District Court on Monday May 16 following a “terrifying” incident which involved him attending the address of a man who was known to him known to him, making threats, producing a knife, and stabbing through doors and the occupant’s hand.

He was charged with one count of unlawfully wounding another and one count of possessing cannabis, both of which he pleaded guilty to.

The court heard the incident occurred on July 15, 2020 at Rosewood, when Rowsell was 43 years old and his victim was 35 years old.

Crown prosecutor Tom O’Brien said he had come before the court on 22 separate occasions before Monday and been convicted of 35 offences.

The court heard Rowsell and his victim had been friends for a number of years, though their friendship had fallen away – and there had been an altercation between them – just days before the attack.

About 8.45pm on July 15, 2020, the 35-year-old and his partner were at their home in Rosewood when Rowsell attended and started making threats and aggressive comments.

“The complainant’s partner was able to evade and she left the property and called the police after which time the defendant has then made repeated attempts to gain entry to the property,” Mr O’Brien said.

“During that time the complainant has placed himself against a screen door to prevent access by the defendant.”

The court heard it was then that Rowsell produced a knife and began stabbing through the door and at the man’s hand which was holding the door closed.

Bradley James Rowsell, 45, pleaded guilty to unlawfully wounding another and possessing dangerous drugs.

Police arrived on the scene and arrested Rowsell, also finding 3g of cannabis on his person.

The 35-year-old was taken to Ipswich Hospital and underwent surgery for the two lacerations to his hand. He was discharged the following day.

Mr O’Brien said Rowsell had spent about 13 months – 393 days – in presentence custody, between July 15, 2020 and August 11 last year.

The court heard aggravating factors in the matter included the fact the attack took place at the victim’s property and Rowsell came to the altercation with a knife.

Defence barrister Stephen Kissick told the court his client was a father of two children, aged 10 and 11 years old, who both missed their father “dearly” while he served time in presentence custody.

One of Rowsell’s children was said to have a significantly debilitating cataract disease which will ultimately see him become legally blind. Rowsell himself lost an eye when he was four years old.

Judge Horneman-Wren SC said he had taken into account Rowsell’s pleas of guilty, the “protracted” nature of his offending, and his “lengthy” Queensland criminal history which dated back to 2004 when deciding an appropriate penalty.

He noted also that he had been compliant with police, had a number of mental illnesses, and had suffered a brain injury as a result of an assault occasioning bodily harm offence he committed in 2014.

“This is the second occasion on which you will be sentenced for a propensity of violence against people who you have had a level of disputation with,” Mr Horneman-Wren said.

Rowsell was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment with immediate parole release for the wounding offence. Convictions were recorded and he was not punished any further for the drug possession offence.

Mr Horneman-Wren declared the 393 days he had spent in presentence custody as time served under the sentence.