South Burnett parents face court for crimes from racist abuse of cops to domestic violence
From hurling vile racist slurs at a police officer, to attacking a woman with a baseball bat over $150, there’s no shortage of parents making for poor role models to their kids. SEE THE LIST OF THE MOST SHOCKING CASES:
Police & Courts
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There’s no shortage of Burnett parents behaving badly and finding themselves before the courts, with some even coming before a judge for committing crimes against their children.
Here’s a list of parents falling afoul of the law in recent times:
CONVICTION RECORDED:
Kingaroy mums hurls racist slurs at cop
After attempting to break up an altercation at the McDonald’s, a police officer of Asian descent endured vile racist slurs from a Kingaroy mother, who among other things called him a “Chinese c--t”.
Natasha Rose Smallwood pleaded guilty to a charge of public nuisance following the early morning altercation.
At 2.50am February 21, 2021, police were called to a large brawl at the Kingaroy McDonalds and attempted to move the two warring groups on.
In the process of doing so, Smallwood became irate and began abusing a police officer, screaming “f--k off, you Chinese c--t”, “f--k your face off, you Chinese c--t”.
The 33-year-old was placed on probation for 12 months.
Addict dad deals ice to feed habit
A single father has narrowly avoided spending time in jail after he supplied meth in the Burnett to feed his own habit.
Mark Holton, 53, pleaded guilty to two charges of supplying a dangerous drug and possession of a mobile phone used in commission of a crime.
Crown prosecutor William Slack told the court Holton offered to sell 1 gram of meth to a contact via text.
Then, six days later he sold 0.3 grams of meth for $150.
Holton was sentenced to nine month’ jail, which was suspended for three years.
Kingaroy dad behind bars for refusing to stay off roads
A disqualified driving charge was the straw that broke the camel’s back for Leim Strickland, whose seven-page driving history left a magistrate with no choice but to lock him up for six months.
Strickland pleaded guilty to three charges including driving while uninsured, driving without a licence, and driving an unregistered vehicle.
Magistrate Andrew Sinclair condemned the 26-year-old’s extensive history of offending.
“You shouldn’t own a car, there’s no purpose in you owning a car. You can’t drive for four years.”
Strickland to three months jail and activated his pre-existing suspended sentence, which is to be served cumulatively.
Man walks free after terrorising partner, children
During a horrifying jailhouse phone call, a South Burnett man called a six-year-old girl a “c--t” and threatened to cut her and make her cry after she giggled when asked if she still loved him.
Appearing in Kingaroy Magistrates Court via videolink, the man pleaded guilty to nine counts of contravening a domestic violence order.
He cannot be named for legal reasons.
Magistrate Andrew Sinclair sentenced the man to six months in jail, which was immediately suspended for three years.
“Partners are people who are equal, who love one another. He thinks that she’s his property and he says these things in order to control her,” he said.
“And this six-year-old is going to grow up expecting domestic violence to happen to her.”
Young dad jailed for stalking partner after baby tragically drowns
A South Burnett man has been jailed for threatening to “bash and kill” his ex-partner after their seven-month-old baby tragically drowned in a makeshift bath in the laundry sink.
Zephaniah Herbert Graham, 22, called the mother of their child 39 times from jail, threatening to kill her, “boot her in the head” and “break her”.
Crown prosecutor James Bishop told Kingaroy District Court Graham also called on relatives to harass Lavinia Alison Murray on his behalf, asking them to pass on threats to bash and kill her.
Appearing in court via videolink from jail, Graham pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice and stalking.
He was sentenced to 18 months’ jail and placed on two years probation.
Father of four back behind bars after terrifying baseball bat attack
A man viciously beat a younger woman with a baseball ball over just $150 he believed was owed to him.
Bowman Charles Davidson horrific late-night attack on his young victim had seen him returned to jail.
Police prosecutor Barry Stevens told the court the 27-year-old victim was at home at about 10pm on August 27, socialising with a friend when she heard a knock on the door.
Thinking it was another friend, she unlocked the door and sat back down.
Davidson, who was known to the victim, then entered the home wielding a baseball bat and sat down on the couch.
The victim walked out of her home and turned to lock the door when Davidson swung the bat at her head, causing her cheek to “split open” and requiring stitches.
Davidson pleaded guilty in Murgon Magistrates Court to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm.
He was sentenced to 18 months’ jail, with a parole date set for February 28, 2022.
Mum of five sentenced for trespass, unlawful use of car
A Kingaroy mother of five was dragged from beneath a water tank on a rural property near Toowoomba, after a police dog tracked her from a stolen car that had crashed.
Jesse Anne Treverton had to be treated by paramedics for injuries to her shoulder, after the dog squad was called in to track her and another person following the crash in Torrington on June 19.
Treverton appeared in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Monday, charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle and trespass.
Treverton was sentenced to 12 months’ probation.
Cherbourg mum jailed for assaulting sister with bottle, trying to gouge out eyes
A Cherbourg mother was sentenced to jail following an alcohol-fuelled attack on her sister, where she gashed the woman’s face with a glass bottle and tried to gouge out her eyes.
Sophia Francis Jacobs was walking down a Cherbourg street with her sister after a night of drinking in October last year when the two began arguing about a family conflict.
The argument escalated until the 33-year-old smashed the glass item she was holding into the other woman’s face, cutting a gash on her eyebrow and under her right eye.
Jacobs pleaded guilty to one count of wounding.
She was sentenced to two years’ jail.
Dad sentenced after police raid finds guns, 21 cryovac bags of marijuana
An Ellesmere man who was using cryovac bags to keep his bumper crop of marijuana fresh has lost it all after police raided his property, uncovering the large drug stash and collection of guns.
Police searched Michael William Riddle’s Ellesmere home in June last year, busting into his locked bedroom where they found the swag of illegal items.
Police prosecutor Lisa Manns told the Kingaroy Magistrates Court officers found 21 bags of marijuana, totalling 1.3kg of the illegal drug, as well as plastic bags and a sealer.
Sergeant Manns said a search of the shed found a Stevens 12-gauge shotgun, 15 rifle barrels, a US carbine rifle, and two boxes of shotgun shells.
The 47-year-old was slapped with more charges in November after he was pulled over by police on the Bunya Highway where they found more drugs.
Riddle pleaded guilty to 10 charges including possessing dangerous drugs, producing dangerous drugs, possessing property used in the commission of a crime, possessing category A and B weapons and ammunition, and possessing an S4 hazardous poison.
He was placed on a 12 months’ probation and fined $750.
NO CONVICTION RECORDED:
Burnett dad’s foul mouthed tirade at principal ends in court
A Burnett father’s foul mouth and expletive-ridden rant at his child’s school principal ended with a court date.
Daniel James Hawkins, 42, faced Murgon Magistrates Court on February 9, charged with insulting a member of a state educational institution while in the presence of a student.
The incident occurred on February 18, 2020, at the Wondai State School.
Police prosecutor Barry Stevens told the court the incident occurred when the defendant attended the school’s office after the school had contacted his wife about a diabetes action plan involving their daughter.
“Upon entering the office the principal has spoken to the defendant in the office area,” Sergeant Stevens said.
“He immediately yelled ‘F--k you c--t, I’ll be taking my kids out of school’.
“The defendant continued calling the principal a ‘f--king c--t’.”
Hawkins was placed on a good behaviour bond of $350 for six months.
No conviction was recorded.
Young single mother abuses police when busted with opioids, weed
A young single mother repeatedly called police “c--ts” after she was busted with drugs.
Tamica Rose Coman, 22, abused the Noosaville police officers on November 6, 2020, earning herself a court date.
Coman faced Murgon Magistrates Court on Tuesday, May 25, where she pleaded guilty two counts of contravening a police requirement, two of possessing dangerous drugs and one of public nuisance.
After being busted with a small amount of marijuana and “two strips” of Buprenorphine, a powerful opioid, Coman repeatedly called officers “c--ts”.
Coman was placed on two good behaviour bonds and ordered to complete drug diversion.
No convictions was recorded.
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Everybody appearing at Maryborough Magistrates Court, Friday, October 18
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