Steven Clayton sent messages to his victim: “you ain’t getting a divorce” and “I do own you, don’t forget it”

A central Queensland man sent his former wife 414 texts in three months and encouraged his parents and daughter from prison to get his ex to drop the stalking charges.

Steven Clayton, 43, sent his former wife 414 texts in three months and encouraged his parents and daughter from prison to plead with his ex to drop the stalking charges. The messages he sent included: "you ain't getting a divorce" and "I do own you, don't forget it".

A Rockhampton man sent his former wife 414 texts in three months and encouraged his parents and daughter from prison to plead with his ex to drop the stalking charges.

Judge Jeff Clarke was horrified at the messages Steven Clayton, 43, sent his former wife which were filled with language which indicated he thought he owned her and threatened to physically harm her new lover.

Judge Clarke read some of the messages out in Rockhampton District Court after Clayton had pleaded guilty on July 30 to one count each of stalking with threats of violence, stalking which contravened a domestic violence order and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The messages included: “go to the police. It ain’t going to stop until I’m home where I belong”, “start wearing my wedding ring again”, “who the f--- do you think you are taking your youngest child out of town without telling me”, “you ain’t getting a divorce” and “I do own you, don’t forget it”.

The offending took place between July 21, 2019 to October 3, 2019; May 10, to June 24, 2020 and June 30, 202o to July 15, 2020.

Crown prosecutor Tiffany Lawrence said Clayton’s behaviour was persistent and was undeterred even by being taken into custody and remanded in a prison.

Ms Lawrence said Clayton sent his victim 414 texts, despite her asking him to leave her alone.

She said among those messages were five threats of violence including “going to smash shit up”, “going to f--- her friend up”.

Ms Lawrence said the messages caused the victim to fear for her safety and those near her.

She said Clayton had been married to the victim and they had been separated for a short time before the offending, which had been initiated by the victim.

Ms Lawrence said the victim started a new relationship in March 2020, and on a day in May, Clayton messaged his daughter trying to find out if the victim was dating anyone and who the ute parked out the front belonged to.

She said while his daughter was home (at her mother’s who is the stalking victim), Clayton drove past, yelled out “oi, tell that c--- to come home” and then sent messages to the victim and his two daughters.

Ms Lawrence said the messages to the victim stated “you f---ed the wrong person (victim). Get home.”

Steven Clayton, 43, sent his former wife 414 texts in three months and encouraged his parents and daughter from prison to plead with his ex to drop the stalking charges. The messages he sent included: "you ain't getting a divorce" and "I do own you, don't forget it".

She said he asked his daughter why the victim was at the police station on one occasion.

Ms Lawrence said on May 25, the defendant approached the victim’s new partner and told him to stay away from her and their daughters or he would hurt him.

She said on June 23, Clayton drove past in a work vehicle.

On June 26, Clayton was arrested for the stalking and remanded in custody.

He made five phone calls from prison to family members, including his parents, asking them to get the victim to withdraw her complaint and get the stalking charges dropped.

Defence barrister Jordan Ahlstrand said his client entered a relationship with the victim in 1998 and they married in 2006.

He said his daughters were 21 and 17.

Mr Ahlstrand said Clayton had worked at Silly Solly’s in Rockhampton, Roma and Emerald before getting a job in his early 20s at the mines where he worked until he was incarcerated.

He said his client instructed his behaviour was “naively and foolishly” and he did what he did thinking it would repair the 21-year relationship.

Judge Clarke chastised Clayton for his “foolish and naive” description.

“There’s nothing naive and foolish about it,” he said.

“It’s what people do when they want to control, dominate, threaten, coerce, psychologically abuse and commit acts of domestic violence.

“It’s conniving. It’s ugly. It’s threatening. It’s demeaning. It’s making her fearful.

“It seems to me you treat your wife as your possession, who you own.”

He said it was also “incredibly concerning” Clayton used his own family members to stop his former wife complaining about him to police, “from within concrete and steel at Etna Creek”.

“The content of those messages is incredibly disturbing,” Judge Clarke said.

“It commenced with you saying things like ‘you’ve just made things hard for yourself’.

The messages continued with “you’re mine and no one else’s. Guaranteed.”

“Guaranteed it ain’t going to be happy for you.”

Judge Clarke ordered Clayton to a 2.5 year prison term head sentence, declared 383 days presentence custody, suspended the sentence after 383 days and set an operational period of five years.

Some of the other messages Judge Clarke read out during sentencing included:

“You keep that c--- away from my girls.

“This is beyond a f--ing joke, (victim). Now you’re just pissing me off. Best start f---ing changing your way of thinking about me and letting me come home. Like I said, go to the police. That won’t stop me.

“Hope you have a good idea of what you are doing to me. It ain’t good.

“This ain’t going to stop until you talk to me.

“I know where home is in Rocky too. The real fun begins soon.

“You think you can take the easy way out. There is no easy way. I’m not going anywhere. Like I said, go to the police. It ain’t going to stop until I’m home where I belong.

“You know what you have to do. Tell me to come home.

“I’ll be watching day and night.

“Start wearing my wedding ring again. I told you the only way for this to stop is for me to come home. You know what I am like. You know I am not going to stop until I’m home and you know I belong there.

“Who the f--- do you think you are taking your younger child out of town without telling me?

“Wait until you get home. You are bringing out the worst in me. You are going to wish you hadn’t kicked me out. I’d change your mind on the whole situation before you get home tomorrow.

“I worked my f---ing a--- off for you three over the years and given yous everything.

“I’ve had it with you and your bulls---. You want to make me out to be the bad one. You’re going to get it. When I’m finished with you, you are going to wish you hadn’t done it … You want to keep your phone to yourself too. You‘re my wife and you ain’t gonna forget it neither.

“Don’t bother hiding at (friend) either. You will put your ring back on and I’ll be waiting for your call tomorrow telling me to come back home … You can run but you can’t hide.”

“Watch your back, mate.

“I’m about to lose my shit again. Hey, it ain’t going to be pretty … Start smashing shit up.

“(victim) it’s not going to stop. I told you when it’s going to stop. Pull ya head in. I haven’t even started yet. I’ve held myself back for you over the years. Yous want to play and be nasty, well let’s be play and be nasty. I’ve had a f---ing gut full of this shit. I told you, you don’t just get to walk away … the house is in my name.

“I told you we ain’t getting a divorce.

“I do own you. Don’t forget it.

“I told you I’d be watching you. You seen me last night … I’m going to make the rest of your life f---ing miserable for telling me you don’t love me and walking out.

“You are nothing but a compulsive liar. You’ve always lied. Keep watching your back. You know I’m watching.”

QUEENSLAND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES

DVConnect Womensline: 1800 811 811

DVConnect Mensline: 1800 600 636

1800RESPECT national hotline: [phone]

Helem Yumba CQ Healing Centre is open Monday to Friday, between 8.30am to 4.30pm, at 14 Fitzroy Street, Rockhampton.

For more information, go to www.cqhealing.com.au.

To report domestic and family violence to police via Policelink, go to www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or call 131 444.