Ripley Butcher sentenced for repeat contravention of protection order

An Ipswich butcher’s shameful acts have been aired before a court, with details revealing how he chased a couple with a shotgun and told a mother she’d never see her daughter again before storming the child’s daycare centre.

Cleveland Courthouse. Pic: Claudia Baxter

An Ipswich butcher who went to a Redlands childcare centre to collect his young daughter, telling the girl’s mother she would never see her again, has been told by a magistrate to “grow up” after facing court on another domestic violence charge.

The 33-year-old Ripley butcher pleaded guilty in Cleveland Magistrates Court on Tuesday, November 8, to one count of contravening a domestic violence order.

The court heard he went to his ex-partner’s home on August 5, 2022 with all of his belongings, refusing to leave the property.

“The (victim’s) mother asked him to leave. The (victim) asked him to leave,” the police prosecutor said.

“He began to argue with her to spend time with his daughter.”

Cleveland Magistrates Court. Picture: Claudia Baxter

The court heard the man’s criminal history included multiple charges of breaching protection orders, unlawful use of vehicle, unlawful entry, assault occasioning bodily harm and assault.

The court heard he assaulted the same ex-partner on November 15, 2020, hitting her on the head.

“He said she was a witch and that she’d put a spell on him,” the police prosecutor said.

“When she’s touched her head she’s actually felt blood.”

The court heard that in the same month he threatened to shoot a man that he claimed touched his daughter, later he was charged after stealing a shotgun from within a couple’s property in Redland Bay and using it to chase them out of the building before pointing the gun at an off-duty police officer.

On April 19, 2022 he went to a Redlands daycare centre after his ex-partner refused to let him go back to her house.

“He told the aggrieved he would collect her daughter from daycare and she would never see her again,” the police prosecutor said.

“He went to the daycare and started questioning staff.”

“It made the aggrieved fearful,” the police prosecutor said.

“She is not safe at this point in time.”

The man’s lawyer, Katelyn Sherrin, said her client was remorseful.

“These offences all arose because of his addiction to drugs,” Ms Sherrin said.

“Since then my client has turned his life around.

“He doesn’t want to go to jail. He wants to be the father his daughter deserves.”

Magistrate Deborah Vasta said he needed to treat his ex partner and daughter better.

“Your daughter is not a pet, not a dog, you don’t get to see her when you want, because that’s just thinking of yourself,” Ms Vasta said.

“You’re going to have to grow up.”

He was convicted and received a suspended sentence of four months, with one month declared as time served.

He was eligible for immediate parole release.