Nanango man Colby John Sterling pleads guilty to stalking, harassment

The identity of a young South Burnett man, who defied a domestic violence order, stalking and harassing his ex-girlfriend over four months can be revealed.

A 22-year-old man (not pictured) pleaded guilty to one count of stalking, intimidation, harassment or abuse in a domestic violence relationship, contravening a court order in Kingaroy District Court on December 13, 2024. IMAGE: iStock

A 22-year-old Nanango man who stalked the mother of his child, hid outside her bedroom window and sent her harassing messages for months had his case heard in court.

Colby John Sterling recently pleaded guilty in Kingaroy District Court to one count of stalking, intimidation, harassment or abuse in a domestic violence relationship and contravening a court order.

According to court documents stemming from the December sentencing and viewed by this publication this week, the two-year relationship with the victim ended around May 2023 but Sterling “just could not accept it”.

A domestic violence order was taken out against Sterling in August of that year, however he continued to contact the victim repeatedly.

Over a four-month period between April and August 2024, he sent abusive messages to her, demanding to know where she was and who she was with.

The court documents stated that in June last year, Sterling sent his ex-partner around 100 messages with the letter A and called her 43 times, even though she never answered and “offered him no encouragement”.

In mid-August, he went to her house and hid outside her bedroom window, which he confessed to her over Snapchat.

A few days later, he called her nine times within 50 minutes in the middle of the night.

Teenage girl among two injured in Lower Wonga accident

Motorcyclist flown to hospital after crash at Cinnabar

Judge Jennifer Rosengren said in the documents that the victim had become paranoid he was following her and so scared for her safety she needed friends or family to escort her back home when she had been out.

She would also have other people stay the night and spent almost $10,000 installing security screens and cameras to protect herself.

“She remains scared of what you might do to her,” Judge Rosengren said in the documents.

“She struggles to trust others and build new relationships.

“She does not even like going out by herself anymore.”

The documents also stated he had previously been sentenced for one other count of stalking.

Judge Rosengren said it seemed like alcohol had been a major contributor to his offending and acknowledged he had successfully completed multiple counselling sessions.

She said she accepted he was “really sorry” and had plans to continue getting help, which included going to a counsellor.

The defendant had been in custody for 96 days, which was taken into consideration during sentencing.

Judge Rosengren sentenced him to 12 months in prison, with a parole release date of January 7, 2025.