Robert John Williams jailed for discharging gun at new girlfriend

Just a week into their romance, a Qld truck driver put a gun to his new flame’s head and pulled the trigger.

Man holding shotgun, mid section, close-up of hand. Gun. Rifle. Generic image.

A truck driver has been jailed after pointing a gun at his new girlfriend’s head and going as far as pulling the trigger.

Robert John Williams, 42, was sentenced in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court on July 11 for threatening violence by discharge of a firearm, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing used a pipe.

Police prosecutor Mirren Smith said Williams had only been dating the victim for one week when this incident occurred on March 21, 2025 at Allenstown.

“He has put a shotgun to her head and told her to ‘say goodbye’,” she said.

“(He) then proceeded to pull the trigger and stated ‘oh’ as it clicked due to no bullet being in there.

“He proceeds to grab a bullet, load it and then walk away.

“This is extremely terrifying behaviour.”

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said she thought this was the most serious example of the charge of threatening violence by discharging a firearm due to the victim believing the gun was loaded.

“That must have been terrifying for your victim,” she said to Williams.

Ms Smith agreed and pushed for the maximum penalty for the charge - two years’ prison - be handed to Williams.

The court heard Williams was also in possession of a small amount of methamphetamine and a pipe that had been used for smoking meth.

Defence lawyer Rebecca Harris said her client had separated from his wife of 23 years about 18 months ago.

She said they the former couple had three children together and he struggled with the separation, turning to using drugs.

Williams was said to have worked as a truck driver working in rail, civil and mines.

His criminal history contained an entry from 2022 for unrelated matters, and the rest was dated, and this was his first time in prison.

Ms Beckinsale said it had been more than a decade since he was convicted of assault occasioning bodily harm.

Williams said that he wanted to apologise to the court, the community and the victim and what he had done “plagued” him.

He pleaded guilty to his charges and was sentenced to two years’ prison with 112 days presentence custody declared as time already served and parole release set for November 21, 2025.

Convictions were recorded.