Warwick court: Serial DV offender takes children on terrifying booze, drug-fuelled joyride

‘Permanent psychological harm’: A Warwick court has heard a father of three ignored his daughters’ terrified screams to stop as he hurtled down a dangerous back road at breakneck speeds after hours of heavy drinking and using drugs.

A serial domestic violence offender has walked free from the Warwick court after speeding down a notoriously dangerous road while drunk, high, and ignoring his three daughters’ terrified screams for him to stop.

The 40-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was at his ex-partner’s Stanthorpe home with the woman and their children on the morning of March 26 when he began drinking casked wine and smoking marijuana, repeatedly sending his daughters downstairs to refill his cup.

Warwick Magistrates Court was told it was only a few hours later that the man insisted on driving his family to Warwick, ignoring objections given his intoxicated state and the fact he was unlicensed.

Police prosecutor Steve de Lissa said the father opted for the infrequently-patrolled Old Stanthorpe Rd to make the journey, knocking back two cans of Jack Daniels worth another two standard drinks each while hurtling dangerously down the back road.

“He drove the vehicle in a manner that caused fear and anxiety to the aggrieved and their three daughters … he drove up to 140km/h at times, took corners at speed, and his children were screaming in fear,” Sergeant de Lissa said.

“Old Stanthorpe Rd is a narrow and often windy road, and it’s not sealed – it’s often not safe driving at 100km/h, let alone anything higher than that.”

The man then purchased another 10-pack of Wild Turkey bourbon cans in Warwick before driving his family back to Stanthorpe, making sure the return trip was an equally frightening experience to the first.

“On the return, the children were screaming at him to slow down, but he would not,” Sergeant de Lissa said.

“When the family got back to the (woman’s) house, the children challenged him about his dangerous driving and the fear it caused them, and he responded with angry and abusive rants, calling his daughter a c —t and a dog.”

Police were soon called to the house and found all three children in tears, with the man still angrily ranting and appearing to see officers’ warnings that he had risked the lives of his family members as “a bit of a joke”.

Sergeant de Lissa said officers also found 0.2g of marijuana and a bong at the man’s feet while at the Stanthorpe home, but the man’s alcohol intoxication levels were never confirmed.

The court was told the Stanthorpe father was at his family’s home by invitation on the day, but it was still in breach of an existing domestic violence order, making it his eighth such offence in recent years.

His criminal history also featured two high-range drink driving offences, which had earned him an interlock period through to 2027.

Duty lawyer Phillip Crook said the man had spent close to a month in custody since his arrest, and asked for his client to be spared further time behind bars so he could attempt rehabilitation.

“He admits to being an alcoholic, which of course is quite evident here from his behaviour,” he said.

“It’s most important for the community and himself that he receives treatment, and he’s not going to get that in prison.”

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess slammed the man’s conduct as abusive and frightening, saying it was clear his significant criminal history had done little to change his ways and he should consider himself lucky to not be spending more time in jail.

“You can’t blame the alcohol for your (recent criminal history), you need to take responsibility for that,” she said.

“It is damaging for children to be exposed to domestic violence such as this, they can suffer permanent emotional and psychological harm.

“I strongly suggest you sort yourself out first and then you might be able to be a better father who doesn’t frighten the living daylights out of (your children), as you did on this occasion.”

The man pleaded guilty to one count each of contravening a domestic violence order, possessing dangerous drugs and drug utensils, driving unlicensed, and driving without an interlock device.

He was sentenced to six months’ jail with immediate release on parole.