Toowoomba tyre fitter Luke Zeidler jailed for terrible acts of domestic violence

Named: A Toowoomba man who beat a pregnant woman with a broom, steel rod, a chair, and steel cap boots has been jailed. Here’s when he’ll be released back into the community.

The Toowoomba tyre fitter Luke Zeidler was sentenced to a four-year jail term for terrible acts of physical violence.

A Toowoomba man who subjected the mother of his children who was pregnant with their third child to a night of violence and terror will spend the next three months behind bars.

At the Toowoomba District Court on Friday, November 1, Luke Zeidler pleaded guilty to a number of domestic violence charges which included two counts of strangulation and three counts of assaults occasioning bodily harm.

Crown prosecutor Emily Coley said the “terrifying and protracted” assault occurred on November 9 and 10 in 2023 at a Toowoomba home the pair had shared, and Zeidler had been in a long-term relationship with the woman.

“There were a number of different ways in which (he) assaulted (her),” she said.

“There seems to be no real reason why it started, (she) had woken up in bed alone… and (Zeidler) entered holding a knife sharpening steel which he then used to assault her.

“He went on to strangle her on two separate occasions.”

She said despite the pair having a history of meth addiction, they were clean at the time of the offence.

During the night of terror, Ms Coley said the 33-year-old threw a chair at the woman breaking the chair, beat her with a broomstick, verbally abused her, and kicked her in the back, hip, and tailbone while wearing steel cap boots.

“Her injuries were quite significant, (including facial fractures)”, she said.

Police were called to the home after a concerned neighbour reported a disturbance, however when officers arrived Mr Coley said the woman wasn’t forthcoming and lied about her injuries.

However, while being treated by the Queensland Ambulance Service, the woman confided in the paramedics subsequently resulting in Zeidler’s arrest and remand in custody where he has remained over the past 12 months.

Ms Coley said the woman’s victim impact statement spoke to the significant impact of Zeidler’s abuse physically and mentally.

“She herself… speaks of losing the ability to have a normal life (and) enjoy a normal life,” she said.

“It is… something that would have been a very horrifying experience for (her).”

The court heard Zeidler had a Queensland and Victorian criminal history which included drug crimes.

The Toowoomba tyre fitter Luke Zeidler was sentenced to a four-year jail term for terrible acts of physical violence.

The court heard Zeidler had a disadvantaged upbringing, witnessed domestic violence in the home, was excessively disciplined, and sexually abused.

Barristers Tristan Carlo said at the time of the offending the pair were separated and on the night of the incident the woman, pregnant with Zeidler’s child, had returned home from interstate to find he “had re-partnered”.

“There was some significant jealousy,” he said.

“It was clear that the offending was targeted towards removing the (woman) from the house, that’s not said to be of any justification for the offending, but that was the motivation behind it.”

“He said to me… he is regretful for his actions.

“He’s otherwise a man who when he does not have substances on board, a person who is capable of behaving appropriately in the community.”

Mr Carlos said Zeidler worked as a full-time tyre fitter for Bridgestone and previously worked for Bon Jane T-Marts.

Judge Dennis Lynch KC sentenced Zeidler to a four-year jail term to be released after serving one-third, 16 months, of his sentence, and declared the 357 days spent in custody as time served.

“Which on my calculation is (release on) the 9th of March next year,” he said.

“You‘ve been in jail now for a long time, I hope that you’ve reflected.

“You can’t be any sort of parent or role model for your children if you’re using drugs and going in and out of jail and certainly not if you’re committing acts of domestic violence.

“You’re a drug addict, if that results from features of your past such… then you should attempt to deal with those things.”

Upon Zeidler’s release, the court heard he planned to live in Toowoomba with a family member who works as an NDIS support worker.

Originally published as Toowoomba tyre fitter Luke Zeidler jailed for terrible acts of domestic violence