Sunshine Coast stalkers named for their disturbing crimes

More people are reporting to police allegations they’ve been stalked than ever before. Here are the names and crimes of stalkers who have fronted Sunshine Coast courts.

Stalking offences on the Sunshine Coast are on the rise, with the latest data revealing more than 65 people were allegedly stalked between 2020-21.

Queensland Police Service’s latest crime statistics show 66 stalking offences were reported in the Sunshine Coast region last financial year –

57.4 per cent higher than the previous year, which saw 41 cases recorded by police.

The increase in reported cases follows the trajectory highlighted in a 2020 report by Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council which found the number of stalking cases had surged by almost 50 per cent since 2005.

The council’s Sentencing Spotlight on Stalking report examined sentencing outcomes data between July 2005 and June 2019, including a total of 1698 cases sentenced where stalking was the most serious offence heard at the sentencing event.

Council Chair John Robertson said stalking was a “very serious crime” which the criminal justice system did not take lightly when sentencing offenders.

Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council chairman John Robertson. Picture: Claudia Baxter

Mr Robertson said stalking ranged from loitering nearby and contacting a person in any way to threatening the victim either verbally or physically.

“It’s that unwanted attention that frightens someone, causes them mental harm, makes them believe they or their property are in danger, or prevents them from going freely about their daily life,” he said.

“In Queensland, the maximum penalty for stalking is five years’ imprisonment but if there are aggravating circumstances — like using or intentionally threatening violence — that can increase to seven years’ imprisonment.”

Queensland legislation changed in December 2015 and May 2016 to strengthen the justice system’s response to domestic and family violence.

Mr Robertson said as a result of the 2015 reforms, stalking that happened in a domestic violence context was recorded or entered on a person’s criminal history as a domestic violence offence.

“Our Sentencing Spotlight (report) on stalking reveals that contravention of a domestic violence order is the most common associated offence with stalking,” he said.

“Stalking causes apprehension and fear of violence, both of which are very present in domestic and family violence offences.”

The research found 97 per cent of those charged pleaded guilty to the offence, with the average age of offenders being 36.7 years old.

There were 900 restraining orders made in cases between 2005 and 2019, with 31.2 per cent of adult offenders ultimately imprisoned.

Here are five Sunshine Coast stalkers and their shocking crimes:

Convictions

Natalie Maree Speed pleaded guilty to being in charge of a car while under the influence of drugs.

Natalie Maree Speed

A Maroochydore woman’s latest offending has been described as “disturbed” after she stalked her ex-partner and his parents, destroyed their property and committed credit card fraud.

Natalie Maree Speed, 31, was sentenced to two years and nine months’ jail, to be released on parole immediately, in Maroochydore District Court in April, 2022.

In his summary of the facts, Judge Gary Long told the court Speed’s most serious offending was related to the stalking of a prior partner and his parents who were living at two different addresses between February and March, 2021.

Judge Long said the stalking caused great concern to each of the victims and resulted in changes of their behaviour in order to avoid Speed.

Speed pleaded guilty to 10 charges including unlawful stalking, five counts of wilful damage and fraud.

She has not appealed the decision.

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Peter Martin Guest

A former TAFE teacher who stalked a teenage IGA worker and sent pictures of himself in Speedos to his victim has escaped jail.

Peter Martin Guest, 59, was sentenced in November, 2021 to 12 months’ prison to be served in the community after he pleaded guilty to stalking a 19-year-old IGA worker between July 30 and September 1, 2020.

Maroochydore District Court heard Guest’s pursuit involved badgering the teenager while he worked, repeatedly calling him “beautiful boy”.

The court heard the victim had to change his work schedule to avoid Guest until he was eventually banned from the store in early September.

Judge Gary Long said Guest’s “concerning” offending showed a lack of insight into the impact on the victim.

A five-year restraining order, banning Guest from contacting the 19-year-old victim was also put in place.

Guest has not lodged any appeal.

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Jonathan Wright

Jonathan Wright was jailed for stalking a Coast woman in for several months in 2019.

A serial stalker has been jailed for harassing and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend because he felt “used and abused” by her.

Jonathan Wright, 44, stalked his former partner for more than three months in 2019 and sent her 72 messages demanding she pay him back $2000 he had given her when they lived together.

Maroochydore District Court heard in June, 2021 the woman was a sex worker who the Toowoomba man had “hired” in 2018 and later entered into a relationship with before she broke up with him and moved to the Sunshine Coast.

Crown prosecutor Alex Stark said the woman had pleaded with Wright to leave her alone and told police about his behaviour.

Wright was sentenced to 18 months in prison and was due for parole in December, 2021.

A Queensland Corrections spokeswoman confirmed Wright is no longer in their custody.

He has also withdrawn an appeal he had lodged.

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Christine Joy Gorell

A Mooloolaba stalker whose goal was to make her elderly neighbour “snap” during a relentless campaign of fear” has avoided jail time.

Christine Joy Gorell was sentenced to 18 months in prison in March, 2022 after she pleaded guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court to five charges including stalking between February 1, 2020 and November 9, 2021.

The court heard Gorell threw a daily barrage of abuse at the 81-year-old neighbour over the 20-month period telling her she was going to push her until she “snapped”.

Police prosecutor Mark Burrell said Gorell, 61, would stand outside the woman’s unit and hurl threats and abuse including calling the woman a c — t and a b---h.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist set an immediate parole release date.

Gorell has not appealed the decision.

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Non-convictions

Artur Domi

A married Noosa painter who incessantly stalked a schoolgirl at a supermarket had to make a run for it after her angry father chased him off in a car park.

Artur Domi, 34, escaped a conviction after he stalked a 16-year-old supermarket worker over the course of six months up until August, 2021.

Police prosecutor Nick Nitschke told the court in February, 2022 Domi had harassed her up to 20 times while she worked at a supermarket in Noosa.

Noosa Magistrates Court heard the teenager had been “creeped out” after the tradie continued to go to her checkout, touched her hand while collecting shopping bags and demanded she served him.

Domi pleaded guilty to unlawful stalking and was fined $1500 with no conviction recorded and he has not lodged any appeals.

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