Toowoomba region man arrested for stalking, assaulting Qld policewoman

Police have opposed the bail application of a young man arrested and charged with assaulting and stalking a regional Queensland policewoman at her home west of Toowoomba.

Picture: FILE / Generic / supplied by QPS

The Queensland Police Service has opposed the bail application of a Toowoomba region man who was arrested and charged with stalking and assaulting a Cecil Plains policewoman in mid-August.

The 25-year-old Cecil Plains man, Kaleb Matthews, appeared at Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday, via the Dalby watch house, represented by solicitor Michael Corbin.

The court heard Mr Matthews’ behaviour was allegedly “rather strange,” and “harassing”.

Police charged him with one charge of stalking and possession of a knife in public, and two assault charges.

Kaleb Matthews has not been required to enter any pleas to the charges.

Given the regional town where the pair resides is quite small, the court heard a bail requirement for Mr Matthews not to go within hundreds of metres of the policewoman was difficult to ensure without the order being breached.

Police prosecutor Rowan Brewster-Webb said the town’s size was one reason why the Queensland Police Service opposed the bail application.

“The difference between the (pairs) residences is approximately 300 to 400 metres – one street away from each other out of a total of three streets in the town,” he said.

However he noted it was possible for him to avoid the woman, he would have to take the “long way around”.

Defence solicitor Michael Corbin said his client was not in a show cause position and entitled to bail.

He noted if reporting conditions were imposed while Mr Matthews was on bail, he would “immediately be likely to put him in contact with the alleged victim who is a police officer”.

Mr Corbin noted the young man expressed concern about not being able to go to the local pub, however he told Mr Matthews he could, he just needed to take a detour.

Mr Matthews was granted bail and released on conditions that he reside at his parent’s home, not contact or approach the woman or her partner, and must not go to the street they reside.

No reporting condition was imposed to ensure the alleged victim was not put in an “extremely distressing” position.

Mr Matthews’ charges were transferred to the Dalby Magistrates Court and will be mentioned on August 24.

Originally published as Toowoomba region man arrested for stalking, assaulting Qld policewoman