Former Family First candidate, NAB banker, Tasman Spence guilty of violent crime

A former federal candidate for a conservative party, turned NAB banker, has pleaded guilty to strangling a female to the point of unconsciousness.

NAB banker Tasman Spence pleaded guilty to strangling a female in Toowoomba to the point of unconsciousness in 2023.

A former Family First candidate, who is now working as a small business banker for NAB, has been sentenced to a suspended jail term for strangling a female at a Darling Downs property.

The businessman, Tasman Alastair Spence, fronted Toowoomba District Court on Thursday, May 22, where he pleaded to one charge of strangulation.

Spence ran in the 2013 election for the seat of Petrie, home to Redcliffe and North Lakes, garnering 1774 votes for the Family First party.

NAB banker and former Family First Candidate Tasman Spence, leaving the Toowoomba Courthouse in May 2025 after pleading guilty to violently strangling a female.

The court heard the violent and protracted incident occurred a few years ago in Toowoomba and caused the female to believe she was going to die.

Crown prosecutor Abby Kong said the 48-year-old put the victim in a chokehold and dragged her around.

Despite her pleas for air, he pulled her to the ground and continued until she lost consciousness.

When she regained consciousness, Ms Kong said the woman pleaded for Spence to stop through tears.

He then turned her onto her stomach, pinning her by the arms, which caused carpet burns on her face.

The court heard that following the incident, the victim experienced dizzy spells and had issues with her neck, however a CAT scan ruled out any lasting injuries.

Ms Kong said in 2021, Spence was sentenced before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court for assault occasioning bodily harm, where he was fined $600 and had no conviction recorded.

NAB banker Tasman Spence pleaded guilty to strangling a female in Toowoomba to the point of unconsciousness.

Barrister Jens Streit, instructed by Skuse Graham Criminal Lawyers, did not enter his submission into the public record, instead directing the judge to his written submissions.

The high-profile Queensland barrister and assistant inspector-general for the Australian Defence Force is assisting in the inquiry into a fatal Taipan helicopter crash off the Queensland coast.

Mr Streit tended a number of documents which included a letter of apology, a report by a clinical psychologist, a mental health treatment plan, and two online behavioural courses Spence completed a month prior to his sentence.

“There are very good prospects of rehabilitation,” he said.

“He has secured employment and family connections in the (Toowoomba) community.”

Spence’s wife, mother, and sister attended court in support of him.

Judge Craig Chowdhury told Spence he should have learnt his lesson the first time he faced court for violence and said he had anger issues.

He accepted Spence was genuinely remorseful and had taken steps to rehabilitate himself.

Aligning with both the Crown and defence’s submissions, Spence was sentenced to a suspended jail term for 18 months.

Originally published as Former Family First candidate, NAB banker, Tasman Spence guilty of violent crime