Terminally-ill Ipswich dad, Gino Buchholz-Ale, released from jail after being given months to live

A young Ipswich father, who turned to crime after a number of traumatic events including a cancer diagnosis, has been given a reprieve after a magistrate was told the man faces an enormous personal battle.

A terminally-ill Ipswich father with as little as days to live has been released from jail despite a downward spiral of crime out of compassion for his cancer diagnosis

Gino Andre Buchholz-Ale was given a 12-month suspended sentence with immediate parole at the Ipswich Magistrates Court on Tuesday, August 10 after the court head he only had a short amount of time to live.

The court heard the 26-year-old turned to a life of crime after grappling with his incurable cancer diagnosis, father’s suicide and grandfather’s death, before he got mixed up with the wrong girl.

His most serious crimes included growing and selling cannabis, driving dangerously while evading police and a break and enter.

Young Ipswich dad Gino Andre Buchholz-Ale in custody during a hospital visit with his only son while being treated for a rare blood cancer.

After being picked up on an arrest warrant, Buchholz-Ale spent 137 days in pre-sentence custody, which included hospital stints for aggressive cancer treatment.

Police prosecutor Nick Turnbull said given Buchholz-Ale’s health circumstances, his immediate release was appropriate.

The court heard in the best case scenario, his life expectancy was three to six months.

In 2018, Buchholz-Ale was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a rare type of cancer found more commonly in children.

The court heard he had no criminal history before he experienced significant traumas in quick succession, however his circumstances were not an excuse for his behaviour.

Buchholz-Ale’s sister, Emily Weeks, 27, said she worked with lawyers to ensure her younger brother did not die in custody.

“If dad were here, I know that’s what he would have done,” she said.

“We’ve just been fighting for the end of his life to be comfortable and happy.”

Buchholz-Ale’s sister Emily Weeks and his ex-wife Iesha Stead at the Ipswich Courthouse on Tuesday, August 8. Picture: Queensland Times

Ms Weeks said her brother’s health deteriorated in custody.

“The haematologist said he had days, maybe weeks, because he wasn’t responding to chemo,” she said.

“It’s hard because we know regardless of the outcome of this in the court, his life span doesn’t change.

“Procedures around certain things in the Queensland Correction Service and Health System need to change and they have to look at each person’s circumstances.”

Magistrate Leanne Scoines said Buchholz-Ale’s offending was more serious because he breached a suspended sentence for similar drug offences in June.

“You made terribly poor choices and it seemed, turned to the world of drugs,” she said.

“You remained remanded in custody as a consequence of the offences before the court and that has significant implications for your current care.

“Because of difficulties and the deterioration of your condition you were transferred to hospital.”

After pleading guilty to more than 40 charges, at least 30 of which were drug related, Ms Scoines sentenced Buchholz-Ale to a 12-month suspended sentence with an immediate release date.

The Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre, west of Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

Buchholz-Ale’s ex-wife Iesha Stead, 26, said his release was a relief but it had been an incredibly difficult and stressful situation to navigate, especially when it came to the pair’s eight-year-old son.

“More humanity and compassion is needed within [the system],” she said.

“He has such a big heart like if anyone needs help he’s the first person to put his hand up.

“I think his soul is a bit broken with everything he has been through.

“People just look at him in jail as if he’s a number — he’s a person.”