Biloela court: Katie Lee James claims ex-hubby sent her porn, tried to run her off the road

A Central Queensland woman has given an emotion-charged explanation for why she assaulted her ex-husband, claiming he regularly threatens her. Here’s what else she says he did to her.

A Central Queensland woman claims her ex-husband sent her pornographic material and has made multiple threats towards her. Generic image.

A Central Queensland woman has faced court for assaulting her ex-husband during ongoing disputes over how their children are raised.

Katie Lee James, 32, pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court on July 13 to unlawful assault (domestic violence offence) and contravening a domestic violence order.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Carl Spargo said James and the victim were an ex-married couple who shared custody of their children.

Sgt Spargo said at 7.30am on June 25, James arrived at her ex-husband’s residence at Moura and started banging on the front door, wall and window of the house while yelling abuse and swearing.

“The defendant repeatedly yelled to the victim to come outside,” Sgt Spargo said.

Sgt Spargo said the man, who was with his partner at the time, opened the front door and James “yelled and screamed in (his) face about not caring for the children”.

“The (man) then told (James) to leave,” Sgt Spargo said.

The prosecutor said James, while yelling at the man, slapped him across the face twice.

Sgt Spargo said the man called police and James left the house before they arrived.

The court heard that James had a previous common assault offence on her history from 2020.

Representing herself in court, James was asked by Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale whether she and her ex-husband had a parenting plan written up, to which she replied: “No we haven’t.”

James became emotional and told Ms Beckinsale that she received “multiple threats” from her ex-husband “regularly”.

“I receive pornographic images from them both, regularly,” she said.

Ms Beckinsale asked James if she had been to the police about the material she said she had been sent.

James said: “I did go to the police, I’ve been to the police when he tried to run me off the road with a car.

“I’ve been to the police when I had witnesses say he was trying to break into my house.

“I’ve had the police, told them he’d been at my house drunk in the night, try to come, and they do not do anything about it.

“I slapped him across the face and I’m arrested in front of my children and driving to a police station.”

Ms Beckinsale said James should follow up with police in relation to what had been happening.

Before handing down penalty, Ms Beckinsale said it was never acceptable to commit domestic violence.

She fined James $500 and did not record a conviction.