Ipswich DV offender’s teary-eyed family at sentencing

The family of an Ipswich DV offender sentenced for a string of sometimes violent crimes wept as he was walked from the courtroom and into custody.

An Ipswich man has been sentenced for a string of domestic violence offences. Picture: Supplied

An Ipswich man has faced court over a string of domestic violence offences, sending a teary message to his family as he was taken into custody for a years-long jail term.

Troy William Douglass appeared before Ipswich District court on Monday, April 17 charged with 23 offences ranging from strangulation and stalking to perversion of justice (domestic violence offences) and a series of contraventions of a domestic violence orders.

Douglass had pleaded guilty to all charges in court on March 31 and was sentenced on April 17.

The court heard the offences occurred over several years, with some having happened while in breach of bail.

Crown Prosecutor Ryan Godfrey highlighted the concerning nature of Douglass’ offending.

“He has contravened repeatedly domestic violence orders and that repeated disregard for what should be a protective order of the court is highly concerning,” Mr Godfrey said.

The court further heard that Douglass threatened the victim and attempted to make them withdraw the orders placed against him, and continued to do so despite police involvement and his eventual arrest and bail.

His mother, stepfather and other loved ones supported him from the gallery and shed tears as the difficulties throughout his life were detailed — including his “abusive alcoholic” father, homelessness and drug abuse — and again as his sentenced was passed.

Douglass was ultimately sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, to be suspended after serving 20 months, with an operational period of five years.

Judge Dennis Lynch declared the 16 months Douglass has been remanded in custody as time served, leaving four months left before he could be released from prison, but the judge issued a stern warning.

“The operational period will be five years, so that means this case isn’t finished,” he said.

“The day you get out of jail is the day you’ve got to make sure you don’t commit another offence, because if you don’t want to go back to jail for a significant period, that’s the only way you’ll avoid it.”

Judge Lynch further detailed that he believed Douglass was “genuinely remorseful” for his offending.

The words “I love you bro” could be heard across the court room as Douglass bid his family farewell.