Named and shamed: Darling Downs men convicted of domestic violence in 2024
Harrowing accounts from domestic violence survivors flooded Toowoomba courts in 2024, from pregnant women assaulted, others subjected to chilling death threats and beheading videos, to brave women forced to run for their lives in an attempt to escape their abusers.
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Countless domestic violence perpetrators from across the Darling Downs region were brought before Toowoomba courts in 2024 for committing shameful and cowardly acts of violence against their supposed loved ones.
The national violence against women crisis claimed the life of 99 Australia women in 2024, up from 74 the previous year, more than 57 of which were domestic violence related.
Domestic violence cases inundated the courts, forcing the justice system to allocate more sittings in 2023-2024 to accommodate the growing number of charges being laid daily across the jurisdiction.
According to Queensland Courts data, domestic violence applications in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court for the year to date increased by 6.6 per cent, with 738 lodged in 2023-2024, and 323 so far in 2024-2025.
Of the 20 Queensland magistrates courts that released data, Toowoomba courts issued more protection orders than 15 other jurisdictions, with Caloundra (20.9 per cent), Richlands (20.5 per cent), and Brisbane (17.2 per cent) recording the largest increases.
Statewide in the 2023-2024 year to date, 52,999 DVOs were initiated, and 21,802 defendants were found guilty of breaching a protection order, 7759 of which received time in detention for the offence - 1278 of the breaches occurred in the Toowoomba jurisdiction.
Concurringly, Queensland Courts recorded 2231 strangulation offences, which is regarded as a precursor for murder, however only 408 charged resulted in sentences which imposed actual jail time.
Below is a small handful of men who were sentenced before the Toowoomba Court between October 2023 and December 2024:
Ricky Cole
In December, Toowoomba man Ricky Cole was sentenced to a suspended two-year term after pleading guilty to two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm charges and two common assault charges.
The Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard in the past Cole served time for domestic violence offences and at the time of some of the offending he was subject to a parole order for similar offending.
Some of the charges predated the parole order and related to an incident where Cole assaulted a young woman and her mother, and threatened to kill the former partner.
The court heard on a different occasion, Cole bit a former partner on her face and stomach, and on another occasion punched a woman in the face, splitting both lips.
Cole was also sentenced to a two-year probation order.
The 220 days he served in custody were taken into account and he was released on parole.
Luke Zeidler
In November, Toowoomba man Luke Zeidler was sentenced to a four-year jail term after he pleaded guilty to a number of domestic violence charges including two counts of strangulation and three counts of assaults occasioning bodily harm.
Toowoomba District Court was told during a night in November 2023, the 33-year-old threw a chair at his ex-partner, beat her with a broomstick, verbally abused her, and kicked her in the back, hip, and tailbone while wearing steel cap boots.
The woman suffered injuries during the protracted assault which included a fracture to her face.
The court was told Zeidler had a disadvantaged upbringing, witnessed domestic violence in the home, was excessively disciplined and sexually abused.
Zeidler will be released after serving 16 months of his sentence, and the 357 days he spent in pre-sentence custody was declared time served.
A conviction was recorded.
William Walter John Jordan
In August, regional Queensland man William Jordan was sentenced to an eight-year and six-month jail term after pleading guilty to a number of horrific DV charges including serious assault and deprivation of liberty.
Toowoomba District Court was told the 41-year-old was a serial DV perpetrator and committed the crime months after his release from prison.
The court was told Jordan held a woman captive for a day and unleashed a litany of violent, abusive, and degrading acts upon her.
His barrister said he had a prejudicial upbringing and a long standing drug addiction which contributed to his criminal history and the DV offending.
Jordan is eligible to apply for parole after serving 60 per cent of the sentence and about seven months of pre-sentence custody was declared as time served.
A conviction was recorded.
Tristan Gary Hooper
In August, Tristan Hooper was sentenced to a three year jail term after pleading guilty to a number of charges including assault and strangulation.
The Toowoomba District Court was told the 28-year-old Toowoomba man strangled, battered, threatened and intimidated his former partner leaving her physically injured and fearing for her life.
Hooper’s defence barrister said his “relationship issues” were caused by his drug addiction.
He was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with 17 months of pre-sentence custody declared as time served and granted immediate parole.
A conviction was recorded.
Zigad Dawood Khalaf Simoqa
In August 2024, Toowoomba man Ziyad Simoqa was sentenced to a four-and-a-half year jail term after pleading guilty to breaking into his ex’s home, assault occasioning bodily harm, strangulation, and breaching a protection order.
In the lead up to the abhorrent attack at Kearneys Spring in March 2023, the Toowoomba District Court was told the 28-year-old was on parole for domestic violence crimes.
His six-page criminal history almost exclusively pertained to domestic violence crimes.
He assaulted and strangled the woman in the street, after dragging her from her home.
The court was told he previously threatened to kill her, wash his car in her blood, and sent a photo of a woman being decapitated.
Simoqa, who spent 514 days in pre-sentence custody, was granted parole eligibility and his visa was not cancelled.
A conviction was recorded.
Jason John Cullen
In May 2024, Toowoomba man Jason Cullen was sentenced to a two year and six month jail term after pleading guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, common assault, and strangulation.
Toowoomba District Court was told the 35-year-old’s criminal history was littered with violent crimes relating to different victims.
The most recent incident occurred at his former partner’s home on August 10, 2023, where he berated, abused, and beat the woman. He also spat in her face while strangling her.
An unsatisfactory report from the parole board showed he refused to engage with services to address his behaviour and drug addiction.
Judge Deborah Richards told Cullen countless offenders had suffered through traumatic childhoods but it did not excuse his actions, urging the man to get counselling.
He was eligible to apply for parole on November 2, 2024.
A conviction was recorded.
Taylor Dale Dickson
In May 2024, Toowoomba man Taylor Dickson was sentenced to a three-year jail term after pleading guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle, wilful damage, and five counts of assault.
Toowoomba District Court was told the 22-year-old assaulted a number of partners in 2022, one of which was attacked by Dickson while she was heavily pregnant.
The court was told Dickson had an unremarkable upbringing and enrolled in a men’s behaviour change program, however he never completed it.
After recording the 354 days of pre-sentence custody as time served, Judge Richards released Dickson on immediate parole.
“Committing any more domestic violence in the next two years and 11 days will see you back in jail,” she said.
Convictions were recorded.
Tyrone Michael Thomas Whittaker
In April 2024, Toowoomba man Tyrone Whittaker was sentenced to an 18-month jail term after he pleaded guilty to a number of assault charges.
Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told that days after the recidivist DV offender was released from prison in November 2023, he assaulted his former partner.
The woman declined to make a police report so the details are unknown, however officers took photos of her facial injuries following the attack.
Magistrate Clare Kelly said if Whittaker failed to address what led to his offending, he was “likely” to kill a partner.
He was ineligible to apply for bail on May 7, 2024, however his full-time release date was June 28, 2026.
A conviction was recorded.
Ryan Rodney Manteufel
In April 2024, Oakey man Ryan Manteufel was sentenced to a six-month jail term, suspended for 12 months, after he pleaded guilty to assaulting his now ex-partner.
Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told the 34-year-old had a history of domestic violence and a protection order was in place when he assaulted the mother of his children on Saturday, April 13.
In 2020, the court was told Manteufel was placed on a four-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, after he assaulted the same woman, who was injured to the point where stitches were required.
Following the most recent incident, the court was told her shirt had been ripped open and she was left with a swollen nose and lips.
A conviction was recorded.
He was back before the courts the following month for DV.
Kurtis Charles Blewitt
In March 2024, Toowoomba man Kurtis Blewitt was found guilty of strangling his former partner after a trial, and was sentenced to a two year jail term with immediate parole.
The 26-year-old’s criminal history included domestic violence related offences.
The court was told Blewitt went to his former partner’s home in a jealous rage, barging in, and pushing her onto a bed where he strangled her.
Blewitt then told the mother of his child to kill herself.
The court was told he was struggling with the break-up and stressed about not seeing his child at the time of the offending.
The Gunnedah-born apprentice mechanic was ordered to pay the abuse survivor $5000 compensation for her hardship.
A conviction was recorded.
Scott Anthony Garner
In March 2024, Darling Downs man Scott Garner was sentenced to a four-year jail term after he pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault and one charge of strangulation.
Toowoomba District Court was told the 42-year-old father violently assaulted his former partner in Toowoomba in May 2022.
The court heard Garner began assaulting the woman inside a tent, and chased her down, after she cut open the canvas in an attempt to escape.
Garner then bundled the woman into a car and continued to assault her until a good Samaritan came to her rescue along a highway.
His criminal history was littered with violent domestic crimes against numerous women.
The 589 days he spent in pre-sentence custody was declared time served, and he was deemed eligible to apply for parole.
A conviction was recorded.
Brandon John Usher
In March 2024, Toowoomba man Brandon Usher was sentenced to a three-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, after he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm in a DV setting.
His criminal history included DV offences.
Usher physically assaulted the mother of his children twice during a verbal argument on September 21, 2023 that started over his secret Tinder use.
He grabbed the woman by the face and pushed her into a door frame, causing bruising and scrapes to her body.
He was required to do a mental health care plan, and partake in counselling and a domestic violence program for men.
A conviction was recorded.
William Kenneth James Brown
In March 2024, Toowoomba man William Brown was sentenced to a 15-month jail term after pleading guilty to assault while armed in a domestic violence setting.
The court was told a jealous and high Brown assaulted the pregnant woman on a number of occasions throughout a five week period.
One incident began at the Southern Hotel, continued in their car, and spilled out onto the streets of Toowoomba, where he threatened and beat her with a blunt machete.
The court heard the longstanding drug addict, who had been struggling with finding accommodation, was in an opioid program to address his addiction.
The 38-year-old spent 154 days in custody which were declared as time served and his parole release date was set to May 23, 2024.
A conviction was recorded - he was back before the courts for DV crimes he committed in custody.
Daniel Wayne Bourke
In March 2024, Toowoomba bricklayer Daniel Wayne Bourke was sentenced to a three-year jail term after pleading guilty to a number of DV charges including assault occasioning bodily harm and strangulation.
The Ipswich District Court was told the 41-year-old assaulted, strangled, and dragged the woman around the house, ripping chunks of hair from her skull, after tearing his way into her home on January 13, 2023.
The court was told Bourke had a blood-alcohol content reading of 0.192 per cent at the time and told the woman he was “going to slit (her) f--king throat,”.
The tradesman spent 151 days in pre-sentence custody was declared as time served and he was granted immediate parole.
A conviction was recorded.
Cody Ryan Dukes
In February 2024, former Toowoomba rugby league A-grade player Cody Ryan Dukes was sentenced to a two-year jail term after pleading guilty to strangulation and two counts of common assault.
Toowoomba District Court was told the 21-year-old assaulted his former partner, first in November 2021, and again in March 2022, where the attack escalated to include strangulation.
As Dukes choked the woman, who was struggling to breathe, he bit her face and called her derogatory names.
He was ordered to be released on parole immediately.
Convictions were recorded.
Tobey Jacob Smith
In February 2024, Toowoomba and Ipswich tradesman Tobey Jacob Smith was sentenced to a two-year probation order after pleading guilty to assaulting his former partner, breaking into her unit, and tampering with the engine of her car.
Toowoomba Magistrate Court was told when the incident occurred at UniSQ Toowoomba in December 2023, the woman had a domestic violence order in place against Smith.
The court was told the 21-year-old grabbed her by her hair and slammed her face first into a concrete and gravel pathway.
While she lay on the ground, Smith turned her to face him, pinning her by the face, preventing her from speaking, while calling her derogatory names.
Smith was also sentenced to a two-year probation order with immediate parole, and the 30 days in pre-sentence custody was declared as time served.
Convictions were recorded.
Qais Ahmad Aziz
In February 2024, Qais Ahmad Aziz was sentenced to a two-year and six-month jail term after pleading guilty to assaulting and strangling his now ex-wife.
Toowoomba District Court was told the assault occurred in November 2022 at the home the pair shared with Aziz’s mother.
The 25-year-old attacked the woman after she had an argument with his mother about not preparing Aziz’s dinner.
Aziz’s barrister said he witnessed violence as a child while living in a refugee camp and had been stressed about work.
He was granted immediate parole.
Convictions were recorded.
Brett Shane Peters
In February 2024, Toowoomba man Brett Shane Peters was sentenced to a two-year and six-month jail term after pleading guilty to two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm.
Toowoomba District Court was told the 41-year-old father of seven committed a protracted and “savage” attack upon his former partner in late 2022 on two occasions.
Following one assault she had blood in her underwear and urine from damage caused to her kidneys.
A week later Peters lifted the woman by the throat, slamming her onto concrete, before pinning her with a knee on her chest when he then twisted her breasts.
The former Oakey meatworks slicer’s parole release date was set to July 13, 2024.
A conviction was recorded.
Blake James Blanche
In August 2023, Toowoomba man Blake Blanche was sentenced to an 18-month probation order after pleading guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm and three charges of animal cruelty in a domestic violence setting.
The incident occurred at a Logan home on August 26, 2022.
Beenleigh District Court was told the 31-year-old held his girlfriend in a headlock for about two minutes until her vision began to blur.
The woman had busted blood vessels in her eyes and a haemorrhage to her neck which was also bruised.
Before Blanche lashed out at her, the court was told he strangled the woman’s four-week-old puppy and kicked it while wearing steel cap boots.
Blanche spent 340 days on remand for the crime which was declared as time served.
A conviction was recorded.
Darrell Peter Hiles
In August 2023, Oakey man Darrell Hiles was re-sentenced in Toowoomba Magistrates Court for breaching a suspended sentence which was imposed after he assaulted his heavily pregnant partner on multiple occasions.
The court was told during the assaults, the 22-year-old powder coater repeatedly punched the woman at home and again in a public setting.
The court was told Hiles abused alcohol and had experienced trauma as a child.
Hiles’ suspended sentence for DV was activated when he pleaded guilty to a handful of charges, which included stealing a puppy during a break-in.
He was sentenced to a 12-month prison order for the fresh crimes and re-sentenced to six months for the assault and probation breach.
Three days he had spent in the watch-house was declared as time served and he was given immediate parole.
A conviction was recorded.
NO CONVICTION RECORDED
Feleti Finau
In December 2023, retired merchant sailor Feleti Finau was sentenced to a two-year probation order after pleading guilty to assaulting his long-term partner.
Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard the 44-year-old attacked his wife and a neighbour who came to her aid at a Millmerran Woods property on October 21, 2023.
During a drunken rage the court heard Finau punched the woman in the face a number of times and followed her when she tried to flee their home.
The court was told Finau sought support for his drinking and programs to address men’s behavioural issues.
Finau had no criminal history, thus a conviction was not recorded.
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