Suellen Baker, 67, pleads guilty to using a carriage service to menace and harass

A Southern Downs grandmother has faced court after ‘quite offensive’ voice messages containing ‘veiled threats to kill’ a woman came to the attention of police. Here’s why she did it.

Suellen Baker has faced Warwick Magistrates Court for sending abusive messages to another woman.

A Southern Downs region grandmother has sent threatening messages to her former daughter-in-law after wanting to spend time with her grandchildren, a court has been told.

Suellen Baker, 67, sent abusive voice messages to a woman over a period from August 15, 2023 and May 25, 2024.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Paul Condon said over that period the woman sent voice messages to a woman who was her son’s ex-wife.

The court was told the grandmother sent “veiled threats to kill” more than 22 messages, Senior Constable Condon said.

Several instances of offending include telling the woman “you’re a joke” and threatening to go to court or take the victim’s job.

Suellen Baker outside Warwick Magistrates Court. August 5, 2024. (Photo: NRM)

Defence lawyer Clare Hine said the woman was “embarrassed and remorseful” the conduct had come to light.

“The offending is due to wanting to spend time with her grandchildren, there was no real threats of violence,” Ms Hine said.

“The marriage with her son and her (former daughter-in-law) broke down and contact with the grandchildren ceased.”

Baker pleaded guilty on August 5 to one charge of using a carriage service to menace or harass.

Magistrate Janice Crawford labelled the offending as an “unusual set of circumstances” but said Baker was a person of ordinarily good character due to no criminal history.

Baker’s “quite offensive voice messages” came after a period of “being heavily involved” in the life of the grandchildren, the magistrate agreed.

“I am certainly satisfied that the offence, while not trivial, explains your conduct by the circumstances,” Ms Crawford said.

The woman was placed on a $500 recognisance order for three months.

No conviction was recorded.