Michael James Rumpf sentenced in court for animal cruelty

A Central Queensland man subjected three dogs to nine months of physical abuse and he persisted with assaulting the animals even when they were making obvious noises of distress. Full details here.

A Rockhampton man has been banned from owning animals for five years and ordered to pay more than $13,000 in boarding and veterinary costs, after subjecting three dogs to nine months of physical abuse.

Michael James Rumpf, 39, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on June 6 to nine counts of animal cruelty and one count each of obstructing a police officer, possessing utensils or pipes that had been used, possessing dangerous drugs, dangerously operating a vehicle, driving without a licence and failing to comply with a requirement to stop a vehicle.

RSPCA prosecutor Sheridan Shaw said Rumpf’s offending involved physical abuse against three dogs, which dated back to 2019, including when they were confined in a cage and unable to escape.

“He has used implements, including a shovel and a hose, and he persisted with assaulting the animals even when they were making obvious noises of distress,” Ms Shaw said.

“This pattern of behaviour happens almost monthly over the course of roughly nine months before the RSPCA took the three animals from his care.”

Michael James Rumpf appeared in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on June 6, 2022.

Ms Shaw said those animals were taken from Rumpf on April 15, 2020, and surrendered to the RSPCA on November 17, 2020.

She said all three of those animals were rehomed.

She said as a result of the animals being taken by the RSPCA there had been boarding and veterinary costs totalling $13,660.15, which was sought.

She said the RSPCA also sought a prohibition order for five years, as well as other costs, including legal costs, totalling $2103.60.

Magistrate Jason Schubert noted the criminal offences dated back to 2020 and 2021, with the most serious charge being the dangerous operation of a vehicle.

Mr Schubert said as Rumpf was reversing out of his driveway he was told to stop by police, which resulted in Rumpf accelerating heavily onto the roadway in reverse.

Police chased after Rumpf on foot.

Rumpf slowed down on two occasions and was given further instructions to stop before accelerating heavily in reverse to get away from police.

Rumpf accelerated heavily several hundred metres in reverse before attempting to conduct a sharp turn, which resulted in him mounting a footpath and colliding with a tree.

Mr Schubert said while Rumpf was driving in reverse, it was police observations that he did not look behind him.

Rumpf then sped towards Kerrigan Street.

As Rumpf was driving towards a major roundabout he was seen drifting to the wrong side of the road and crossed to the wrong side of the road as he entered the roundabout.

Rumpf then accelerated into the roundabout on the wrong side of the road and impacted the towbar of a vehicle and continued travelling on the wrong side of the road onto Feez Street.

Defence lawyer Grant Cagney said his client, who operated his own lawn mowing business, was anxious of the court proceedings.

Mr Cagney said his client left school in Year 9 and started using marijuana not long after leaving school and progressed to using methamphetamine when he was about 20 years old.

“At that time his life was completely spiralling out of control,” Mr Cagney said.

“He says he was becoming a junkie.

“To his credit, he ceased using that drug.”

Mr Cagney said his client continued to see Rockhampton Alcohol and Other Drugs Services and was on the path to rehabilitation.

He said the majority of the costs for the RSPCA were boarding costs.

“It’s not a case where the animals required significant veterinary bills,” he said.

“Of the $13,660.15 fee for all three dogs it’s actually $12,500 in boarding fees.

“There is no significant injury to any of the animals, certainly nothing that required surgery.”

Mr Cagney said his client was moving his car from the driveway when about 30 police officers came running down the street, yelling at him.

“He panicked and thought he would be arrested given the way they were acting and he made the very foolish decision to attempt to flee,” he said.

“He readily accepts his behaviour in the past has been poor but has really started to turn the corner.”

Mr Schubert sentenced Rumpf to nine months’ prison, suspended for 20 months, with criminal convictions recorded.

Rumpf was also disqualified from driving for two years and six months and ordered to pay $13,660.15 restitution to the RSPCA, as well as court costs of $103.60 and legal costs of $2000.

He was also prohibited from possessing, purchasing or acquiring any animal other than animals approved from the RSPCA until June 16, 2027.

Drug paraphernalia was forfeited to police.