‘I’ve got a gun and I’ll blow your brains out’: Billy Joseph Gellwiler’s threat to caravan park resident

A Central Queensland man who had a difficult childhood being brought up in a “drug house” has faced court for a series of crimes including threatening to kill a stranger. Here’s what happened to him.

A Biloela man who had a difficult childhood being brought up in a “drug house” has faced court for a series of crimes.

Billy Joseph Gellwiler, 30, pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court on March 9 to 14 charges including public nuisance, wilful damage, multiple stealing offences and numerous breaches of bail.

The public nuisance offence related to Gellwiler attending a Discovery Caravan Park at Biloela on May 21 last year.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Darrell Dalton said a resident there noticed Gellwiler “hanging around” and asked him what he was doing.

Sgt Dalton said Gellwiler told that resident “I’ve got a gun and I’ll blow your brains out”.

The resident then contacted police as they felt threatened by the comment, Sgt Dalton said.

When police spoke to Gellwiler he said he did not like how the resident had spoken to him and he admitted to threatening that resident.

In relation to the wilful damage charge, on June 13 last year, Gellwiler attended Liberty service station at Biloela.

Sgt Dalton said a person heard banging in a toilet cubicle and after Gellwiler had exited it, it was noticed that a toilet seat had been ripped off, rendering it unusable.

On the same day, Gellwiler went to The Reject Shop, where he was banned from attending, and he stole shampoo by placing it inside a jacket.

Gellwiler’s first “down the pants” stealing offence happened on May 11 last year at the Liberty service station.

CCTV security vision captured him place a bottle of soft drink down his pants and he left the store.

About 15 minutes later, Gellwiler returned and put a packet of chips down his pants and left the store without paying.

On May 19, Gellwiler attended BWS Settlers Barn at Biloela and put a 700ml bottle of Jim Beam bourbon down his pants and he left the store without paying.

The next day, Gellwiler went to the same store and stole a 700ml bottle of rum again using the “down the pants” method.

The court heard Gellwiler had a criminal history and that a mental health report had been prepared, which caused some delays in these matters.

Solicitor Richard Parks said Gellwiler was born in Biloela and schooled there to Year 10.

Mr Parks said Gellwiler had “a long history” of drug use which had caused mental health issues and injuries, and he had also been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

“He was raised in a household where he didn’t have much of an opportunity - mother and all the siblings, from a very early age, were all involved in drugs,” Mr Parks said.

“The father was an alcoholic, abusive, and hence his situation.”

Mr Parks said he had known Gellwiler for some time and he believed his client was “back on the straight and narrow” now.

The solicitor said Gellwiler, who was on a disability pension, was now attending “everything he has to attend” in relation to his rehabilitation and health conditions.

“He lives in the Banana Shire homeless shelter at the moment,” Mr Parks told Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale.

“As I said, he was brought up in a drug house - he was full on with alcohol and drugs.”

Before handing down penalty, Ms Beckinsale noted that Gellwiler had numerous stealing offences on his history.

She acknowledged that he had experienced a difficult time but she told him “you need to help yourself” and “you can’t keep doing this”.

Ms Beckinsale placed Gellwiler on 12 months’ probation, fined him $500, and ordered he pay $92 restitution.

Convictions were recorded.