William Brierley pleads guilty to stalking, burglary in Maroochydore District Court

Armed with a face covering and a knife, details of a young man’s home invasion after he persistently stalked his ex-girlfriend have been revealed.

William Brierley outside Maroochydore District Court on the day of his sentencing hearing. Picture: Patrick Woods

A Yandina man who stalked a woman before committing a violent home invasion with a knife had to serve no more additional time behind bars, court documents have revealed.

Sentencing remarks from the sentence of William Brierley in Maroochydore District Court state the 20-year-old was instead released immediately on parole due to time already served for his violent and persistent crimes last year.

These were retold by Judge Glen Cash following his pleas of guilty to burglary, stalking and using a carriage service to make a threat to kill during his sentencing hearing on April 22.

The court was told the offending began following the end of a relationship with the woman when Brierley was 19.

Following its conclusion, Judge Cash said the Yandina man stalked the victim through persistent and unwanted contact for more than two months.

This included loitering near her gym between eight to 10 times, sending her messages and leaving unwanted flowers in what the judge described as “emotionally manipulative” behaviour.

Brierley outside court. Picture: Patrick Woods

During this period Brierley believed the woman was involved with another young man.

The court heard the 20-year-old sent messages and left voicemails where he threatened to kill him.

Judge Cash said the most serious offence was on June 20 where Brierley went to the young man’s home with another person while dressed in a face covering and armed with a kitchen knife.

“You made statements to this other young person that you were going to kill him and that he should come out and you were going to stab him,” Judge Cash said.

“He, as it happens, was across the road at a park when he heard all of this.”

The man’s flatmate however unfortunately “bore the brunt” of Brierley’s threatening behaviour after he forced his way in through the front door.

While inside, the court heard he intimidated the flatmate by throwing a television and smashing a driver’s side window of a car parked outside.

He pleaded guilty. Picture: Patrick Woods

Brierley was arrested on July 4 and spent seven months remanded in custody where the court heard he was assaulted by another prisoner. He was eventually granted bail in the District Court on February 4.

When considering the Yandina man’s background, Judge Cash spoke of Brierley’s family life where he moved out of home at a young age, an injury he suffered while working as a labourer, as well as his abuse of marijuana and alcohol.

The court heard he had since complied with his bail conditions and received rehabilitation and treatment for anger management.

Judge Cash acknowledged the seriousness of Brierley’s crimes but believed he had been significantly punished enough due to the seven months the 20-year-old already spent behind bars partnered with the assault he suffered while incarcerated.

Brierley was jailed for two years but due to time served he was granted immediate parole.