Brenton Lee Kelly: Man fronts Ipswich court on assault, armed robbery charges

A man involved in a “vigilante” attack which featured a 40cm sword and left a man hospitalised has appeared in an Ipswich court on charges ranging from assault to armed robbery.

A man who participated in a brutal armed robbery which left a man with “significant injuries” to his ribs and face has appeared in an Ipswich court after pleading guilty to three charges including assault occasioning bodily harm.

Brenton Lee Kelly, 36, appeared in Ipswich District Court on Wednesday May 18 on one count each of assault occasioning bodily harm, entering a dwelling with intent while armed in company, and robbery while armed in company.

The court heard he had been arraigned and entered a plea of guilty to all three counts on April 20 this year.

Kelly’s co-offender Jade Teresa Stelling pleaded guilty to the same three charges: assault occasioning bodily harm, entering a dwelling with intent while armed in company, and robbery while armed in company.

Prosecutor Rachel Stewart said the offences occurred on December 2, 2019 when Kelly, Stelling, and two other unidentified co-offenders attended the house of a 53-year-old man who was known to both Kelly and Stelling.

Ms Stewart said the man was approached in his garage about 11am by Stelling, who asked him for “gear”.

The court heard the man told her he did not have any drugs and could not help her.

It was then that Kelly “rushed” into the garage with two others – one of whom was armed with a 40cm sword – and attacked the man.

“The defendant punched the complainant in the face and struck into the left side of his body,” Ms Stewart said.

“The complainant raised his arms to try to shield his head and the defendant yelled ‘where’s my money? Where are my drugs?’”

Ms Stewart said the 53-year-old fell to the ground and Kelly punched him in the ribs a number of times, telling the man he had supplied his brother with drugs and it was his fault he was in hospital.

While the man was on the ground, Kelly “grabbed” a gas bottle and hit him with it.

“He threatened to burn the complainant with the bottle unless he unlocked the safe and the cupboard in the shed,” Ms Stewart said.

The court heard the man opened his safe and Kelly struck his face again before searching the safe, taking tools, a 2L bottle of Jack Daniels, bourbon, the man’s wallet and coin collection, jewellery including his wedding ring, his mobile phone, pocketknives, and a spanner set.

Ms Stewart said the 53-year-old suffered “significant injuries” including fractures to his ribs, air leakage between his lung and chest wall, small lacerations to his face and skull, and tenderness over his left cheekbone, throat, left arm, shoulder, and ankle.

He was treated in hospital and released after four days.

The court heard Kelly was arrested December 4, 2019 and made some admissions to police. He was remanded in custody and released on Supreme Court bail on April 20, 2020.

Ms Stewart said the first “significant” violent offence on Kelly’s Queensland criminal history – robbery in company – was dated October 19, 2012.

In relation to the charges before the District Court on Wednesday, Kelly served four months and 16 days in presentence custody from December 4, 2019 to April 20, 2020.

Ms Stewart noted there were several distinguishing features between Stelling’s matter and Kelly’s “vigilante offending”, as Stelling did not inflict any actual violence but rather encouraged violence, made demands, and issued threats.

Kelly’s counsel Anthony Kimmins agreed Stelling’s matter was different to his client’s, particularly as Stelling had a “more substantial” history featuring a number of breached orders.

Mr Kimmins said Kelly had spent the past 2.5 years working “very, very hard” to prove to the court that he is “worth another try”, and now had two successful businesses and a wife he was desperate to avoid prison for.

Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren SC asked Mr Kimmins to clarify the particulars of his employment and who operated his businesses.

Mr Kimmins requested the matter be adjourned so he could provide an affidavit in relation to his client’s employment history.

Mr Horneman-Wren agreed and adjourned the matter to Wednesday June 8.