Bradley Thomas Phillips convicted of using stolen gun to scare Collinsville family

Witnesses to a frightening gun incident in the Queensland mining town of Collinsville are still losing sleep over it months down the track. See what made a young father snap.

Residents of a North Queensland mining town are struggling to recover from a young father’s disturbing actions with a stolen gun, a court has heard.

Bradley Thomas Phillips, 21, took his girlfriend’s father’s .30-30 Winchester Centre Fire rifle and five rounds of ammunition from a gun safe in the early hours of the morning on July 24.

He walked through the streets of Collinsville to find his female target, then aimed the gun at her outside her home, threatening her for 10 minutes before finally agreeing to “take the bullet out”.

Bowen Magistrates Court heard Phillips had a “smug and smirking” expression on his face when he arrived at the woman’s residence about 2.40am, but later became “very emotional”.

Police from Bowen, Collinsville and the Public Safety Response Team attended the scene about 3.30am and took Phillips to Collinsville Hospital for a mental health assessment.

Bradley Thomas Phillips pleaded guilty to going armed so as to cause fear, unlawful possession of weapons (category A, B or M), and driving while a relevant drug is present in drug or saliva. Picture: Facebook

The court heard Phillips had been involved in several altercations with the female victim and members of her family in the lead up to the incident, including allegedly taking a “flogging” and a “touch-up” from both the woman and her husband that night, after being accused of “shoving” their daughter during a drinking session at a river.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Jay Merchant said Phillips voluntarily attended a police station on July 29 and admitted he had “intended to scare some people for the way he was treated”.

Phillips’ solicitor Leah McDonnell confirmed the catalyst for the gun threat was Phillips “wanting them [the family] to feel how he felt”, but also said Phillips had planned to use the weapon to commit suicide that night.

Phillips, 21, was unemployed and hanging around with ‘unsavoury’ characters in the lead up to the offending in Collinsville. Picture: Facebook

Ms McDonnell told the court her client had long-term mental health issues and had fallen in with an “unsavoury” crowd on moving to Collinsville from Townsville a short time before the incident.

She said Phillips, his 18-year-old girlfriend, and their infant child and had immediately moved back to Townsville after the incident to get away from a “very unhealthy environment” with a culture of “smoking dope, drinking, and not working”.

“It wasn’t a good place for him and his mental health, “ Ms McDonnell said. “The culture led to a great deal of strife for this young man.”

The court heard Phillips moved back to Townsville the day after the gun incident. Picture: Facebook

Sgt Merchant said 16 witnesses were still reeling from the events of that night, and needed assurance other people feeling aggrieved “just don’t go brandishing a firearm, walking through the community causing fear.”

“All witnesses have struggled to deal with the event, continue to lose sleep over it, and replay the incident in their head,” Sgt Merchant said.

“It’s not difficult to see why – he caused a lot of trauma towards those witnesses.”

Magistrate James Morton described Phillips’ conduct as “very concerning” and “very dangerous”.

He remanded Phillips in custody for two nights before handing down a three-month suspended jail sentence and 12-month probation order on Thursday, September 16.

He also fined Phillips $350 and disqualified his licence for one month for an April 2021 drug-driving charge.

Convictions were recorded for all charges.

If you need support, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.

If it is an emergency, phone Triple-0.