Abattoir worker in court for five breaches of protection order

An abattoir worker has pleaded guilty to five breaches of a protection order, all within days of agreeing to the order in court.

TOOWOOMBA, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos DECEMBER 13, 2023: A general view of the the Toowoomba Courthouse. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

A Toowoomba abattoir worker has pleaded guilty to five counts of contravention of a domestic violence order, all within a week of the order being put in place.

Despite agreeing to a temporary protection order in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on June 5, the 35-year-old abattoir worker continued to message and approach the aggrieved’s Centenary Heights home within the same week of the order.

The worker, who cannot be named to protect the woman, appeared via video link in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Thursday, June 13, 2024.

The 35-year-old was present in the court at the time of the order and had agreed to not approaching within 100 metres of the aggrieved’s residence nor communicate with her, the court heard.

That same day he sent a text message to her saying: “You happy with that [name]?”, the court heard.

“The following day on June 6 starting at 6.28am the defendant texted the aggrieved 11 times,” police prosecutor Nick Pratt said.

The next day on June 7, another two texts were sent to the aggrieved, he said.

At 10.30am on June 10, he was seen by both CCTV and the neighbours as he went over to her house, entered the front gate, let the dog out and called the aggrieved three times, Mr Pratt said.

Then again on June 11, between 5.30 and 7.30pm he attended the house three times, spoke to the aggrieved and tried to come inside, the court heard.

When police arrived the aggrieved showed them the CCTV footage and text messages, Mr Pratt told the court.

The abattoir fitter and turner was arrested on June 13, 2024, the court heard.

The 35-year-old man was looking to move into a Brisbane caravan park with his sister, who was supportive of him, duty lawyer Alysha Jacobsen said.

He had made admissions to the police as soon as he was arrested and had taken an early plea of guilty, she said.

He was sentenced to six months probation.

Magistrate Kyna Morice told the court it would not be long enough for him to take part in a men’s behavioural change program, because of waiting times and limited programs.

“It is long enough for you to start some rehabilitative work for your challenges with alcohol,” she said.

Originally published as Abattoir worker in court for five breaches of protection order