Thomas James Davey pleads guilty to wilful damage, stalking

An Acacia Ridge man was given a suspended sentence when he appeared in court after inflicting two days of stalking terror and dousing petrol on a woman’s doorstep.

An Acacia Ridge man was given a suspended sentence after inflicting two days of stalking terror and dousing petrol on a woman’s doorstep. Picture: iStock

A Brisbane man who doused a woman’s front door in petrol spent two days terrorising his victim, a court has heard.

Acacia Ridge man Thomas James Davey, 35, appeared in the Brisbane District Court facing several charges including possessing dangerous drugs, possess utensils, wilful damage – domestic violence offence and unlawful stalking uses/threatens violence – domestic violence offence.

The court heard Davey first contacted the woman to collect some clothing and cords on May 25, 2019.

He then arrived at a residence in Brisbane asking a relative of the woman where the items were.

The court was told Davey became aggressive and started to swear, calling the relative a “c**t” and used words to the effect of “I’m ramming the car through your house if you don't move.”

The crown prosecutor told the court Davey then drove to the victim’s workplace and told colleagues “she has 24 hours to get me the stuff or I’m going to kill her.”

He then proceeded to call her numerous times.

On May 27, 2019 a temporary protection order was made in the Ipswich Magistrates Court against Davey.

The court was then told that same day, the 35-year-old attended the victim’s home again where her relative and several minors were at the property.

The victim’s relative spotted Davey’s car in the driveway and saw the Acacia Ridge man standing at the front door pouring petrol on the ground.

The court heard how she smelt petrol and moved everyone into the backyard before calling police.

“Fire crews attended the home and were forced to hose down the area,” the Crown Prosecutor said.

A lighter was found at the front door by emergency services.

Judge Michael Williamson, QC in his summary described the offending as “abhorrent”.

“It doesn’t take much imagination to appreciate that your behaviour over these two days would have been terrifying,” he said.

“Your plea of guilty demonstrates to me that you are remorseful for your offending.

“And your remorse is not only communicated to the court by your plea of guilty but you’ve also written a letter of apology.

“Your plea of guilty and your remorse are mitigating factors that I’ve taken into account.”

He was sentenced to 18 months, wholly suspended with a two-year probation period.

Convictions were recorded.