Matthew Dean Thomas’s ‘disconcerting’ Ipswich stalking sparked by ‘divine spirits’

An Ipswich woman’s passing smile to a stranger kicked-off a year’s worth of “terrifying” drug-addled stalking from a former Coles worker.

An Ipswich woman’s passing smile to a stranger kicked-off a year’s worth of “terrifying” drug-addled stalking from a former Coles worker.

A court has heard how a deluded Ipswich man relentlessly stalked a stranger for more than a year – knocking on her door late at night, jumping in front of her moving car and using an alias to inform her he was a virgin.

Former Coles-worker Matthew Dean Thomas, 30, pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates Court on December 22 to unlawful stalking, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing utensils or pipes, possessing utensils or pipes that had been used, and contravening a direction or requirement of police.

The court heard he had stalked a 21-year-old woman in Raceview from June 22, 2021, to October 22 this year.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Brad Dick said the stalking started after the victim drove out of her driveway one day and saw Thomas dancing on the footpath.

A week later she received an unsolicited message from Thomas over social media, reading: “you live in my estate, miss”.

On June 30, 2021, she heard a knock on her door late at night but when her partner went to check, no one was outside.

Another week later, she heard another knock and spotted Thomas outside her door.

She recognised him as the same person who reached out on social media, as he had a distinctive mullet hairstyle and facial features, and chose not to answer.

The victim installed a new doorbell with an in-built camera but Thomas returned on July 12, 2021 at around 6am.

Sgt Dick said the victim’s partner answered the door on that occasion and Thomas told him he was “here to speak about a heartache” and then stated “any single ladies in there, I got a hundred million dollars last week”.

Sgt Dick said Thomas also said he “was told by divine spirits to come here for my heartache”.

The court heard the victim contacted police and they were able to identify Thomas using the footage from the doorbell.

Sgt Dick said Thomas had told police he had been at the house of a “pretty girl” and that he believed she liked him because she had smiled at him when driving past him some time ago.

The court heard Thomas had the victim’s vehicle registration written on his face at the time – which included the victims first name.

The police warned him off his behaviour, but later that evening, the victim received a message from another account on Instagram, which shared the last name Thomas.

The message read: “my brother is a virgin”.

Sgt Dick said Thomas continued to stalk the woman sporadically over the coming months.

He would dance and blow kisses at her when she drove past, and sometimes run towards her or try to jump in front of her car.

Sgt Dick said the victim became increasingly fearful leaving her home, had stopped taking out rubbish or checking her mailbox, and considered moving house.

Home CCTV captured footage of Thomas yelling and screaming outside the victim’s house in July, 2022, which Sgt Dick said “terrified” her and caused her difficulties sleeping at night.

The offending came to a head when Thomas jumped out in front of the victim’s car on South Station Road in October 2022.

The victim swerved and missed him, but he continued dancing and blowing kisses at her as she drove away.

Thomas was arrested on October 26 and remained in custody until his sentence.

Sgt Dick said he’d spoken to the victim and she’d told him “I hope (Thomas) gets the help he needs”.

Sgt Dick said Thomas “clearly needs supervision” and raised concerns he might not get that with a sentence of imprisonment.

He acknowledged Thomas had a limited criminal history and did not once threaten to harm the victim or commit any act of violence.

The court heard Thomas was remorseful and apologised, and that his behaviour was affected by drug-induced delusions.

Magistrate Dennis Kinsella said Thomas had apparently been an “average everyday person” before he started using drugs and had worked previously at Coles.

He called Thomas’s conduct “disconcerting” and “bizarre” and applauded the victim for her “charitable position”.

“Members of the community are entitled to go about their day-to-day activities unimpeded by such persistent and unwanted conduct,” said Mr Kinsella.

Thomas was sentenced to 57 days imprisonment – with his 57 days in presentence custody declared time served.

He was further sentenced to 18 months probation, and was released from custody that day.