Man sentenced in Sunshine Coast court for stalking woman

A woman was unable to use her phone when a former tradie who had a jail stint called and messaged her about 2000 times in a four-month period.

Maroochydore Court House. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A former tradie who had just been released from jail and contacted a woman about 2000 times has been sentenced for stalking.

The young man pleaded guilty in the Maroochydore District Court on May 9 to one count of stalking contravening an order.

The court heard between June and September last year, he contacted his ex-partner, who he shares a child with, about 2000 times through social media, calls, text messages and voicemails.

Crown prosecutor Elle Bolam said he had attempted to call her up to 100 times per day, each time asking for the woman to get in contact with him.

He had said in his messages he “f---ed up really bad and needed help,” the court was told.

Ms Bolam said the victim struggled sleeping and was unable to use her phone often due to his persistent calls.

In September last year, he was taken into custody.

Judge Glen Cash said the “persistent and unwanted contact” caused the woman fear and anxiety.

Ms Bolam shared the man’s criminal history in the court, which included an incident that forced a school into lockdown when he threatened to take their child from the school and kill the teachers.

His other offending involved assaulting the same woman at a bus stop and throwing her phone on the ground, the court was told.

Ms Bolam said he was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment with parole eligibility for the bus stop attack, and was released on June 28, 2023 - the same day he began to contact the victim.

Defence barrister Veronika Drago said her client exchanged emails with the woman during his time in prison.

She told the court the man grew up often couch surfing and was using cannabis from a young age.

Ms Drago told the court the man had undertaken a therapeutic program in prison and was willing to engage in further assistance services.

Judge Cash ordered he be imprisoned for 167 days, which he had already served in pre-sentence custody, and he be immediately released on probation for two years.