LIST: Young tradies in Sunshine Coast courts over the past 12 months
They build our homes and fix our pipes, but these local tradies have found themselves on the wrong side of the law. SEE THE LIST.
Sunshine Coast
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Tradies and labourers have had their crimes aired in Sunshine Coast courts in past months, from drunk fights outside pubs to uncovered drug stashes.
These builders, scaffolders, concreters and more had the details of their wrongdoing revealed in local courts.
See the list:
Taylor Christopher Broad
Maroochydore District Court heard the details of Taylor Christopher Broad’s crimes against a woman following his guilty pleas of suffocation, common assault, strangulation and wilful damage.
Crown prosecutor Caleb Theunissen said drugs were used by both parties in the relationship between him and the younger woman which began in 2022, and the offending started shortly after.
The court heard that during the first incident the Parrearra man called her a “junkie s--t”, pulled her hair and slapped her, and days later held a pillow over the woman’s face briefly, not allowing her to breathe.
On the same day, the Crown prosecutor said the woman filmed Broad telling her “if you are here when I get back I will belt the f--- out of you, I will bash your f---ing head in, that is how much I hate you … you mean nothing to me”.
More domestic violence occurred on January 25, 2023 where he damaged the woman’s phone, and another on February 10, 2023 where Mr Theunissen said Broad was acting threatening towards her, prompting her to pull out a small knife in self defence.
A struggle ensued over the knife where Broad overpowered her, grabbed her throat and squeezed while stating “don’t ever come at me with a f---ing knife, do you understand”.
The court heard Broad “increased the pressure” until she couldn’t talk as she struggled to get him off of her. He then slapped her across the face.
Defence barrister Simon Lewis said it was “appalling” and drug-fuelled conduct which occurred in a “toxic environment” where the pair both used drugs.
Broad was jailed for two-and-a-half years, but the remainder was suspended after three months’ pre-sentence custody.
The concreter, who was 38 at the time of sentencing, was also placed on an 18-month probation order and must pay the victim $10,000 in compensation.
James Anthony Overett
James Anthony Overett had only finished parole six months before his arrest on December 16 last year outside a Little Mountain home when police made the nefarious discovery of a loaded firearm and meth.
Maroochydore Magistrates Court was told in June how officers spoke to occupants in a vehicle on the street, which included the Morayfield man who was 33 at the time of sentencing.
Police prosecutor Allison Johnston said officers found a backpack underneath the car containing a broken, but loaded, shortened shotgun with six unused ammunition shells, as well as up to 1.7g of meth in a plastic bag and a glass pipe.
Sergeant Johnston said Overett told police he bought the firearm from an unknown person and was not sure it even worked, and claimed he had it because he did not want to leave it at home.
He was charged with, and later pleaded guilty to, possessing drugs, possessing shortened firearms, authority required to possess explosives and possessing drug utensils.
The court was told the former panel beater fell into drug use due to injuries to his feet, which led to criminal offending and his eventual incarceration in 2023 for similar crimes.
Overett was jailed for nine months but will be released on parole on August 17.
Jonathan Russell Massey
Jonathan Russell Massey was assaulted during his 194-day stint in jail for incessantly harassing a woman following their break up.
Maroochydore District Court heard in April how he repeatedly contacted and followed his victim from September 15 to October 5 last year.
The court was told the water proofer called the victim hundreds of times, sometimes through private phone numbers and from phone boxes. He also “bombarded her” with countless texts and Facebook messages.
Massey loitered in the victim’s street under the guise of walking his dog at one point and tried to speak to her as she drove into the street, the court was told.
He also continued to follow her when she tried to make her way home after hiding from him.
Massey, who was 37 at the time of sentencing, was arrested on October 10 last year and remained in custody until his sentence where he pleaded guilty to unlawful stalking.
While inside, Defence barrister Lily Brisick said the 37-year-old was the victim of a violent assault on December 16 last year which left him with serious facial injuries.
Ms Brisick said Massey came from a prejudicial upbringing and suffered from bouts of homelessness for parts of his life after moving from New Zealand to Australia.
The Nambour man was jailed for 15 months, however with 194 days time served, the rest of his sentence was suspended for two years, which resulted in immediate release.
Garrett John Randall Plummer
A Sunshine Coast civil construction worker, who was 23 at the time, was criticised for his “abhorrent revenge” on a past Tinder match after he posted her nude photo on Reddit.
Garrett John Randall Plummer never met his dating app flame however he exchanged a series of intimate photos with her in 2021 and 2022.
Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard in July last year Plummer and the woman eventually unmatched and “unfollowed” one another, and went on with their dating lives.
Fast forward to May 4, 2024, he saved the victim’s naked photo on Snapchat while drinking at Airlie Beach and posted it on Reddit, an online public forum.
Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Shane Raison said it was posted to a “mature content” internet group with 22,000 members, who would’ve had “unfettered use” of the image.
Senior Sergeant Raison said Plummer did not take down the photo until the victim confronted him, and he was charged with one count of distributing intimate images, to which he pleaded guilty.
Defence lawyer Alex Collins said Plummer had no criminal history and recognised the toll his act had on the victim, and was deeply ashamed and remorseful.
Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist called it an act of “abhorrent revenge” and placed Plummer on a two-and-a-half-year probation order.
A conviction was recorded.
Jake Steele
Jake Steele’s acts of brutal violence were shown to Maroochydore Magistrates Court in August last year after his pleas of guilty to six offences including two counts of assaulting in a public place while adversely affected and one count of resisting authorised persons after being refused entry.
The two vicious assaults occurred at a Kunda Park strip club on the evening of March 31, 2024 where Steele, who was 26 at the time of sentencing, was ejected from the venue.
The concreter was seen on CCTV then shaping up and pushing away the venue manager, before they began to trade multiple blows.
The second video depicted Steele loitering outside the venue in front of two security guards and then taking off his shirt to rain down blows on one of the officers until they fell to the ground.
Steele delivered a flurry of punches and kicks in the footage, all while a bystander tries to sheepishly break it up with an umbrella who then showed aggression to before the video concluded.
Police prosecutor Mel Pyke said Steele was picked up by police and returned a blood alcohol reading of .286, before he came into view of police again only four weeks later at the Coolum Beach Hotel.
Sergeant Pyke referred to the victim impact statement of Steele’s first victim, who suffered financial and personal hardship due to the assault fracturing his kneecap.
The police prosecutor said the second victim suffered injured ribs.
Defence lawyer Katie Paterson said Steele was grossly intoxicated when he was asked to leave the two venues during both sets of offending. She said he had no recollection of what happened.
Steele was jailed for 18 months, with a parole release date set at November 29, 2024.
Riki Mikura
The Maroochydore Magistrates Court was told in September how Riki Mikura had been out on the town in Mooloolaba for a 21st prior to committing an offence on May 4, 2024.
Police prosecutor Stephen Potter said CCTV footage showed Mikura, who was 25 at the time of sentencing, walking in an intoxicated state along Victor St before entering a vacant block.
He approached a fence separating two properties and tried to climb it, but left a dent before he knocked an entire panel out, which was then reported to police
Mikura later spoke to Caloundra Police on August 5 after he found out officers were “looking for him” in relation to the wilful damage and told them he could not recall the incident.
The Bli Bli man also confirmed he lost his shorts, phone and wallet that night.
Duty lawyer Cherise Breese said the roofer had paid back the damages for the fence and was angry with himself for getting that intoxicated.
Mikura pleaded guilty to wilful damage and was fined $500 by magistrate Rod Madsen, with a conviction recorded.
Thomas Andrew Dickinson
Thomas Andrew Dickinson escaped with only minor injuries but totalled his car following a serious rollover along Roys Rd at Beerwah on July 11 last year.
Police prosecutor Stu Lydford said in September emergency crews were called to a crash where the labourer’s Ford Fiesta was found “completely destroyed” in a paddock.
Caloundra Magistrates Court heard the vehicle veered into a ditch and flipped over a number of times before it came to a rest in a field.
Dickinson had already left the vehicle before police and paramedics arrived, and numerous empty liquor cans were found around the vehicle.
Sergeant Lydford said Dickinson, who was 21 at the time of sentencing, was reasonably uninjured and told officers he couldn’t remember the crash.
The court heard he later returned a blood alcohol reading of .197.
Dickinson pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor, driving without due care and driving without a licence.
Representing himself, he told the court he had recently moved in with family on the Sunshine Coast from Victoria to try and “get away from the trouble”.
Dickinson was fined $900 and was disqualified from driving for nine months.
Luc Jean-Claude Dumoulin
Maroochydore Magistrates Court was told in November, 2024 how Luc Jean-Claude Dumoulin, a Gold Coast labourer, was caught by police in a compromising position in a car park in Bokarina on January 30, 2024.
Magistrate Rod Madsen said Dumoulin, who was 21 at the time of sentencing, was seen loitering around a black Audi with three others when he was approached by officers after arousing suspicion.
Police prosecutor Mel Pyke told the court he was found with two shortened rifles, 1g of cocaine, drug items, flick knives, ammunition and stolen clothing.
He had entered pleas of guilty to multiple offences including two counts of possessing shortened firearms and possessing dangerous drugs.
Defence lawyer Kylie Anderson said since being bailed the 21-year-old had made significant steps to change his life by staying away from the “older crowd” he was hanging with.
He was sentenced to six months’ jail, suspended for 12 months. He was also placed on 12 months’ probation.
Jacob Craig Besant
Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard in November, 2024 how Jacob Craig Besant attacked his victim after a verbal altercation about who was first in line at the takeaway venue along Ocean St on October 30, 2022.
Police facts say the victim was at the kebab shop about 3am when he recalled having an argument with Besant over whose order was next.
Court documents state CCTV captured the seconds where Besant punched the victim, which caused him to fall to the ground, before landing several more hits until he was restrained by security.
The construction worker, who was 25 at the time of sentencing, was later charged with assault, which he pleaded guilty to in court.
Court documents state the victim suffered injuries to his face and teeth and was required to visit a general practitioner and a dentist.
Defence lawyer Belinda Robinson spoke of Besant’s prejudicial upbringing and how he grappled with drinking during his life.
Besant was handed 15 months’ jail, suspended for 18 months. He must also pay $2000 in compensation to the victim.
Liam Dreesan Arthur
A carpenter narrowly avoided jail time after knocking a colleague unconscious at a work Christmas party for being a “nuisance”.
Liam Dreesan Arthur, who was 27 at the time, appeared in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Friday, May 30.
Arthur, who was supported in court by his family, pleaded guilty to one charge of assault occasioning bodily harm.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Mel Pyke told the court Arthur punched the victim once, after first knocking his glasses off his face, while at a venue in Maroochydore.
“The victim has suffered physically, socially and psychologically, he lost consciousness waking with a pool of blood around him,” Sgt Pyke said.
“He walked home with a splitting headache and as a result of his fractured nose he had extreme pain putting on his glasses.”
Arthur’s solicitor Madalyn Olivero told the court Arthur was “immediately concerned” for the victim’s welfare following the assault.
He was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, with immediate parole, as well as an order to pay the victim $1500 in compensation.
Lee Harry Lawrence White
Lee Harry Lawrence White’s victim was lining up at the Maroochydore nightclub Zyped on Ocean St in the early hours of New Year’s Day when he committed a gross act.
Magistrate Rod Madsen said to the court in April the Palmview man accidentally stood on a woman’s foot, to which she replied “excuse me”.
Mr Madsen said White, who was 24 at the time of sentencing, then turned around and spat directly in her face while “very drunk” at the time.
White was charged with common assault and contravening a police requirement to go to the police station on February 6. He pleaded guilty to both charges in court.
Defence solicitor Jacobus Malan said the concreting business owner had a history of alcohol abuse and worked in an industry which was rife with a drinking culture.
The court heard he planned to explore alternative work in the future.
The concreter was placed on two years’ probation, fined $400, and ordered to pay compensation of $750 to the victim.
A conviction was recorded.
Jwuan David Atama Eru-Guthrie
Jwuan David Atama Eru-Guthrie, who was 22 at the time, admitted in Maroochydore Magistrates Court in April to violent conduct which left his victim with bruising and swelling to his face, after he pleaded guilty to assault, commit public nuisance and contravening a police direction.
Police prosecutor Mark Burrell said Eru-Guthrie was in Cairns City on September 7 last year when he was seen screaming and punching a phone booth before spotting a stranger and challenging him to a brawl.
The man tried to talk the roofer out of the fight by walking away, however was pushed in the chest and slogged in the face.
In a matter of weeks he was seen on CCTV causing a disturbance again outside Gilligans Bar trying to start fights with passerbys until police arrived and moved him on.
Sergeant Burrell said Eru-Guthrie was seen a short time later trying to get into the bar by climbing over a back fence. He also tried to get into Down Under bar.
Eru-Guthrie, who represented himself in court, said he left the Far North to get away from bad influences and currently lived on the Sunshine Coast.
Magistrate Chris Callaghan placed Eru-Guthrie on a nine-month jail term, which was suspended immediately for 12 months, and ordered him to pay $500 compensation.
Michael John Alderson
A glimpse into the Sunshine Coast drug world was revealed in published remarks in March from Michael John Alderson’s sentence in the Supreme Court of Brisbane last year, when he was 30 years old.
Justice Tom Sullivan said the Buderim builder was under police surveillance on June 27, 2022, and the following day police arrested Alderson with a bag which had close to $2500 in cash inside, a Rolex watch and a container labelled “Balls Power” filled with various tablets.
Court documents state following a search of a seized vehicle, police found an unlocked Apple iPhone, a vial containing cannabis oil, a laser, notebooks and a small amount of meth in a cigarette packet.
Six balloons containing 2g overall of alprazolam tablet fragments were also found and his phone revealed various communications over a drug debt.
Almost a year later on May 9, 2023, police searched his Buderim home following his arrest for unrelated matters and found 12g of pure meth concealed in a clip seal bag.
Justice Sullivan said Alderson was being prosecuted on the basis the meth found was for a mixed purpose, being personal and commercial use.
Alderson spent 631 days in custody on remand before he pleaded guilty to multiple charges including possessing and supplying dangerous drugs.
He was jailed for three years but granted immediate parole on September 19 last year, due to time served.
Jaxon Robert Kahn Salisbury
The genesis of Jaxon Robert Kahn Salisbury’s $8150 discovered during a search warrant at his Ninderry home on March 8 last year was discussed during his sentence in Maroochydore Magistrates Court in May.
The labourer, who was 22 at the time, was sentenced after pleas of guilty to possessing drugs over the schedule, contravening an order to open his phone, possessing anything used in the connection of the commission of an offence and possessing scales.
After police raided Salisbury’s home, Police prosecutor Mel Pyke said he was uncooperative with officers and refused to grant them access to his phone.
Sergeant Pyke said 9.37g of cocaine was found during the search, with scientific testing revealing only 3.57g of the substance was pure.
Defence solicitor Ben Rynderman told the court there was no commerciality alleged from the drugs or the cash found by police.
Salisbury’s lawyer said the labourer had a problem with substances at the time after he was stood down from his roofing apprenticeship during the pandemic.
He was jailed for six months, which was immediately suspended for 12 months.
Clayton Jack Vermast
Clayton Jack Vermast sported a prominent black eye by video from the watch-house during his appearance in Maroochydore Magistrates Court in March after he was arrested for a crime spree involving drink driving, evading police and stealing.
Among 35 charges, Vermast, who was 21 at the time, admitted to nine counts of stealing, six of driving disqualified, two of police evasion, two of fraud and one of driving without due care and driving under the influence of liquor.
Police prosecutor Jeanette Grigoris said the “prolonged and persistent” spree ran from May to December last year, which included fuel drive offs, the use of false number plates and a dangerous crash with a light pole in Currimundi.
The court heard he later returned a reading of .152 and was driving disqualified at the time.
The Nambour scaffolder also committed a brazen burglary of his former housemates on June 25 last year where he took an Xbox, DJ decks, a bluetooth speaker and sunglasses, and evaded police twice in the span of eight days in October.
Defence solicitor Kristie Koo said he admitted to being an alcoholic during his crime spree and drank up to 40 beers a week, with a minimum of 10 cans a day.
Magistrate Rod Madsen jailed Vermast for 18 months and set his parole release date to May 11, taking into account the three months he served.
He was also disqualified from driving for three years.
Nathan David Miller
Police were called to Coles Mooloolaba to reports of a “suspect” person in the business’ car park about 1am on February 1.
Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard later in February how police spoke to three men standing next to a car, one being Nathan David Miller who was asked if there was anything he’d like to declare for a search.
Police prosecutor Mark Burrell said the landscaper, who was 28 at the time of sentencing, told officers there was a knife under the passenger seat.
Sergeant Burrell told the court the 40cm knife was “substantial” in nature and could not be something which could simply be carried out by mistake or used for something.
Duty lawyer Michael Robinson said Miller accepted he had possession of the knife when it was found by police, but was instructed the knife belonged to one of the men who he was with at the time.
Miller pleaded guilty to possession of a knife in a public place and was fined $600 with a conviction recorded.
Dallas Collin Cornell
Body cam footage showed to Maroochydore Magistrates Court in February depicted Dallas Collin Cornell’s booze-fuelled assaults on the two policemen, who suffered abrasions, bruises and a chipped tooth from the wild melee.
The mechanic’s drunken assaults were aired after he pleaded guilty to two charges of serious assault police and one each of driving under the influence of liquor and obstructing police.
Police state officers intercepted Cornell, who was 21 at the time of sentencing, about 11pm on November 8, 2024 in Marcoola where he was breath tested and detained for further testing.
After asking for a cigarette, the court heard Cornell say “sorry boys” before, out of the blue, he threw his elbow into an officer’s face, with a wild tussle ensuing.
The court was told Cornell was taken to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital where he obstructed police again, to the point where he needed to be restrained.
Blood tests revealed he had a blood alcohol concentration of .225.
Defence solicitor Jamiee Burns said the fishing boat worker turned labouring mechanic was remorseful and was referred for a mental health plan.
He was granted immediate parole after being jailed for nine months.
Cornell was disqualified from driving for nine months, fined $800 and must pay $1610 in compensation to the police he attacked. He was also ordered to perform 40 hours’ community service.
Mason William Stoakes
Mason William Stoakes spent 241 days in prison after committing a series of violent offences over an 11-month period, which included assaulting two people and throwing a wooden stake “like a spear” at an elderly woman.
Stoakes, who was 24 at the time, was sentenced in Maroochydore Magistrates Court in February after pleas of guilty to 14 offences including two of assault and one of serious assault, threatening violence and trespass.
At his previous hearing last year, police prosecutor Brendan Newman said the assaults included the tradie apprentice attacking a man at Toowoomba after damaging a sign in 2024, before throwing him to the ground.
The court had heard he then “eye gouged” the victim and left him with scratches and bruises.
Stoakes was involved in another assault on June 11, 2024 in Woombye where he landed blows on his victim, grabbed his shirt, and then got on top to slog him in the head after the victim fell over.
On the same day, the court heard Stoakes grabbed a long timber stake and threw it “like a spear” towards an 82-year-old woman. It fortunately did not hit her.
Stoakes was jailed for two years however with time served he was immediately released on parole. He was also fined and disqualified from driving for two years.
The Woombye man must also pay $750 in compensation to one of the victims.
Shaquille Steven Jordan Tonga
Shaquille Steven Jordan Tonga made the decision to not only drive to the Brisbane Magistrates Court on February 24 where he had his licence disqualified for two years, but to drive back home.
Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard in February this year after receiving his suspension, the contractor hopped back into his car and was intercepted by police in Maroochydore later that afternoon, who he made full admissions to.
Computer checks confirmed Tonga’s licence was originally disqualified from May 9, 2024 to May 8, 2026, however he was suspended from driving again at Brisbane earlier that day from February 24 to February 23, 2027.
Tonga, who was 30 at the time of sentencing, was charged and pleaded guilty to driving disqualified by a court order in court.
Defence solicitor Ben Rynderman was instructed Tonga had no way of getting to Brisbane for his court sentence and “panicked” and decided to drive there, which was made during a “stressful situation”.
Tonga was jailed for one month which was suspended immediately for two years.
Kye Benjamin Parkin
A 17-year-old Taiwanese exchange student was confronted by Kye Benjamin Parkin, who was 18 at the time, at Sunshine Coast University in Sippy Downs on September 29, when he asked the younger boy for some cigarettes or vapes.
The Maroochydore Magistrates Court was told in January the victim said he could not help and hopped on the bus, however realised Parkin followed him and stood near him in the aisle.
Police prosecutor Shane Raison said when the bus came to a stop, the international teenager felt Parkin try to grab his phone and yelled out to the bus driver.
The court was told Parkin struck the victim in the face and ran off the bus, with the 17-year-old in pursuit.
The victim eventually contacted university security who found and restrained Parkin until police arrived.
Senior Sergeant Raison said officers noticed he was appearingly under the influence, and only two weeks prior had had stolen from a bottle shop.
He pleaded guilty to charges of common assault, stealing, failing to appear and contravening a probation order.
Duty lawyer Jaimee Burns conceded the teenage concreter did not respond well to a 12-month probation order he received in July, 2024 for stealing pizza from a woman and her children sitting in their car.
The sentencing for Parkin’s fresh matters was adjourned, but he was sentenced again on his pizza stealing charges.
The 18-year-old was ordered to complete 120 hours’ community service and was fined $400. A conviction was also recorded.
Jack Robert Coleman
A Gympie civil construction worker told police he “f---ed up” after they spotted him performing a fishtail when he was almost four times the legal blood alcohol limit.
Jack Robert Coleman returned a reading of .191 following his boozy intercept about 9.05pm at Maroochydore on November 22, 2024.
Coleman was 27 years old at the time of his sentencing in Maroochydore Magistrates Court in December, 2024.
Police prosecutor Brendan Newman said officers were patrolling Maroochydore Rd before they came to a stop at the intersection with the Sunshine Mwy.
Sergeant Newman said they saw a white ute with the driver revving his engine and accelerating heavily before losing traction during a turn and skidding through a corner.
Coleman failed to break and instead continued to accelerate out of the turn which created a fishtail before he drove off.
After Coleman was pulled over, he immediately made admissions, saying “ah I’m f---ed” and “I f---ed up … that was stupid” in reference to his driving.
Defence lawyer Jacob Pruden said the labourer completed the Queensland Traffic Offenders Program and had “made things difficult” for himself as he was working on a project in Brisbane.
He pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and driving without due care and was fined $1500. He was also disqualified from driving for nine months.
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