Horrific crimes of South Burnett domestic violence offenders
Since 2023, South Burnett courts have dealt with multiple heinous cases of domestic and family violence, with one magistrate declaring he sends more people to jail for DV than anything else. These are some of the most abhorrent:
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Since the beginning of 2023, South Burnett courts have dealt with multiple domestic and family violence crimes with one magistrate declaring he sends more people to prison for DV than anything else.
According to White Ribbon Australia, a woman is murdered every five days across Australia from domestic violence.
Laws around the disclosure of abusers’ identities can be complicated because of the need to protect the victims’ identities, but in some instances they can be named.
If you or someone you know is experiencing violence, contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 for advice and support. In an emergency, call 000.
Here are some shocking cases of domestic violence that have gone through the courts since 2023.
Douglas Charles Engledow
Nanango panel beater Douglas Charles Engledow pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, choking, wilful damage and possession of a dangerous drug in Bundaberg District Court on February 22, 2024.
Crown prosecutor Annika Fritz told the court that in October 2019 Engledow went uninvited to the Baffle Creek home of the victim, a former partner with whom he had broken up about seven months previously.
An argument ensued which culminated in the victim telling Engledow he wasn’t welcome at her home, the court heard.
As he was leaving, Engledow asked her for a kiss, and when she declined he grabbed her around the neck, pushed her backwards onto the ground and squeezed her throat, with the victim freeing herself by punching him.
The second series of offences occurred in Kingaroy in November 2022, with a different victim.
The court heard Engledow punched her in the face, pinned her down on a mattress that was on the floor and began choking her with one hand while restraining her arms with the other.
While she was struggling to breathe Engledow punched her a number of times, and ripped the door off the refrigerator in the course of their struggle.
Judge Leanne Clare told Engledow his assaults “traumatised” his victims and “must have been terrifying”.
Engledow was convicted of assault occasioning bodily harm, strangulation or choking in a domestic setting, wilful damage and possessing dangerous drugs and was sentenced to 5.5 years in prison, with a parole eligibility date of July 13, 2025.
Connor Healy
A 20-year-old Kingaroy man escaped jail time after first assaulting his mother in the lead-up to Christmas, and then choking his brother when confronted about the attack.
On November 8, 2023, Connor Healy pleaded guilty in Kingaroy District Court to multiple charges including two counts of common assault, wilful damage and choking.
The court was told during a “heated argument” on December 8, 2022 Healy violently shook his mother, who suffered from multiple sclerosis, then grabbed her glasses from her face before knocking over a table which landed on her toes.
After the assault Healy left, slamming the front door hard enough to damage the wall.
When he returned later in the day his brother, who suffered from cerebral palsy, confronted him about the incident.
In the ensuing fight Healy choked his brother three times, the court heard.
When his brother rang the police Healy slapped him over the head.
Healy’s defence barrister told the court his client “lost control in a way he hasn’t before” when he assaulted his mother and brother.
Judge Glen Cash told Healy there was “no excuse for violence of this kind”.
He sentenced Healy to 18 months jail, with the sentence wholly suspended.
Kingaroy man sent chilling texts
A 29-year-old Kingaroy man was placed o probation after pleading guilty to seven charges of breaching a domestic violence order between October 2-8, 2023.
Kingaroy Magistrates Court was told the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had a domestic violence order taken out against him by his 19-year-old partner in August, 2023.
On October 2, the victim sent the man a picture of their child in the bathtub.
He replied and warned the woman not to let her new partner touch their child.
Prosecutor Barry Stevens read some of the messages in court including one that said “don’t let him touch our child or I’ll slit his throat”.
“Yeah, that’s right, ignore me, I’ll come and shoot your house up c—t,” Mr Stevens read.
Over four days the man sent the woman almost 200 text messages and called her more than 60 times.
“Domestic violence is a serious and insidious problem in our society,” Mr Stevens said.
Magistrate Andrew Sinclair emphasised the seriousness of domestic violence in the community.
“I send more people to prison for domestic violence than probably everything else combined,” the magistrate said.
The man was placed on probation for 18 months.
Convictions were recorded.
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