Rorrie John Dodds: Ex-army dad’s chilling threats to kill

A former army electrical technician from Moreton Bay, who threatened to kill his ex-wife and sent her a picture of a gun, has lost his defence job.

A former army electrical technician from Moreton Bay, who threatened to kill his ex-wife and sent her a picture of a gun, has lost his defence job.

Warner man Rorrie John Dodds, 30, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court on Monday to unlawful stalking/threatening violence (domestic violence offence).

Warner man Rorrie John Dodds, 30.

The court heard Dodds unlawfully stalked and sent at least 43 text messages, which included threats to kill, to his ex-wife in Warner between June 9-14 in 2021.

In one of the messages, Dodds sent his ex a picture of a shotgun on the top of a counter in a store on June 10.

The court heard Dodd began driving from his residence in Warner to south towards NSW where his ex lived at the time.

On the way, he made threats to kill his ex and she told him if he turned up the police would be there.

Dodd replied saying, “Good they can die too” and sent her a photo of himself driving.

The court heard when Dodd reached Burleigh Heads he realised what he was doing, turned back and handed himself over to police.

The court heard he wasn’t in possession of a gun and told police his ex had been making things difficult for him with visitation rights.

Dodds’ lawyer said his client had no criminal history and became “emotionally distraught” after his ex told him he could not video call his child.

He said Dodd had been working in the army as an electrical technician for over five years but was discharged in January due to the charge he was facing.

The court heard Dodd had a troubled childhood and his brother was stabbed to death in 2011.

He was sentenced to 18 month imprisonment suspended for a period of two years and also subject to a restraining order.