Drug trafficker Bradley Thomas Brooks threatens to kill partner and cat

A convicted drug trafficker forced his partner on a dangerous drive along the Queensland coast, threatening to plough into trucks and trees to kill them both and a cat at over 150km/hr, a court heard.

Convicted drug trafficker Bradley Thomas Brooks, 45, was on parole when he was in Burgowan, just north of Maryborough, with his partner when they got into an argument about his need to be in Cairns before his parole was cancelled, Rockhampton Magistrates Court heard on October 28.

A convicted drug trafficker forced his partner on a dangerous drive along the Queensland coast, threatening to drive them into trucks and trees to kill them both and a cat, driving in excess of 150km/hr at times, a court heard.

Bradley Thomas Brooks, 45, was on parole when he was in Burgowan, just north of Maryborough, with his partner when they got into an argument about his need to be in Cairns before his parole was cancelled, Rockhampton Magistrates Court heard on October 28.

Police prosecutor Clancy Fox said Brooks yelled at the victim to pack her clothes, started counting to 10 and raised his fists to threaten her.

He said Brooks threw items, such as a lighter, at her when she refused.

Brooks told the victim four times that he would throw her in the car if she didn’t get in it herself.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said Brooks then “barged” at the victim and she fell against the bed.

The defendant grabbed the victim by the hair and wrists, dragged her to her car and threw her in the car before slamming the door and yelling at her that she was acting like a child.

“He’s driven at speeds of in excess of 150km/hr,” Mr Fox said.

Ms Beckinsale said Brooks also drove at 80km/hr on dirt roads, took turns at 90km/hr and conducted fishtails.

“That is a terrifying circumstance when you’re not in control of the car,” she said.

Mr Fox said Brooks told the victim “I’ll kill us both together, and the cat. Don’t think I won’t do it. I will run into a truck or a tree.”

Mr Fox said the defendant would speed up to vehicles then slam on the brakes at the last minute, saying he was going to kill them both.

He said the victim, who asked Brooks to pull over multiple times, put her feet against the dash to stop herself from making contact with the windscreen.

At one point, Brooks produced a knife and threatened to kill her with it.

The victim eventually managed to escape when Brooks took them to a friend’s house.

Ms Beckinsale said Brooks continued to abuse the victim, yelling at her and making threats including burning down the house she was staying in.

Brooks drove off in the victim’s car, without the victim and without her permission to use her car.

“He was located by police walking away from the vehicle on the Capricorn Highway,” Mr Fox said.

Defence lawyer Brian McGowran said the couple had previously agreed on a plan to get him back to Cairns in time to meet his parole obligations.

He said things changed and when it reached 14 hours to his client’s deadline, Brooks no longer had enough time to drive back to Brisbane and fly to Cairns to meet those parole obligations, so he had to drive back.

Mr McGowran said his client claimed he tried to explain to his partner that if he didn’t get back to Cairns in time, a warrant for his arrest would be issued and he would be returned to prison.

The court heard Brooks had previously been convicted for trafficking drugs, assault occasioning bodily harm and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

Brooks pleaded guilty to one count each of deprivation of liberty, common assault, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and breach of a domestic violence order.

Ms Beckinsale sentenced him to 18 months prison, declared 137 days presentence custody and set parole release for December 13, 2024.