Dads gone bad: Queensland’s criminal fathers exposed
Many parents work hard to set a good example for their children, but some Queensland fathers have found themselves in hot water with the law recently. SEE THE LIST
Cairns
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Many parents work hard to set a good example for their children, but some Queensland fathers have found themselves in hot water with the law recently.
Here are some Queensland fathers who have faced court.
BRISBANE
Phillip Bale
Brisbane Father Phillip Andrew Bale was found guilty of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing the death of his 11-year-old son.
The court heard he was driving at an average minimum speed of 87km/h, 74km/h and 65km/h over three sections of a 70km/h road in Wakerley according to a video.
His car collided with a traffic light pole before his son died in hospital a day later.
Bale was sentenced to three years’ jail in Brisbane District Court, suspended after 12 months, and his driver’s licence was disqualified for a year.
Aubrey Cox
Father-of-four Aubrey John Cox filmed himself having sex with an unconscious woman without her knowledge.
The Ipswich man pleaded guilty to recording a woman in breach of her privacy at Ipswich District Court.
Cox was originally charged with rape but the charge was dropped two years after he was taken into custody.
The court was told that he also acted as a carer for his grandmother.
A conviction was recorded but he was not further punished as he served 802 days in pre-sentence custody.
Simon Cross
Father-of-two Simon Andrew Cross was found with $4.3 million in cash stashed in his girlfriend’s car when he was pulled over on the Pacific Motorway.
The Strathpine man pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court to money laundering after working as a mule for the leader of a major interstate cannabis smuggling syndicate.
The court heard he was paid about $1000 for each delivery he completed, totalling $8500.
Judge Tony Moynihan said he did not know what he was dropping off or picking up but he knew it was not lawful.
Cross was sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ jail, suspended for three years.
David Cubilla
Father-of-three David Eduardo Cubilla stole more than $600,000 in super from a deceased client before being busted with more than 1700 child abuse images.
The Calamvale financial adviser pleaded guilty to fraud in excess of $100,000, using a carriage service to access child abuse material and possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service at Brisbane District Court.
The court heard Cubilla started his business in the midst of a financial crisis and fell into a “whirlpool” of debt so he started withdrawing cash from the client’s account as a “f*** you to the system”.
He pretended to be the owner and withdrew over $637,734.88 in the span of 11 months before the super fund alerted police after realising the owner was deceased.
The court heard his alcohol abuse and financial difficulties contributed to the fraud.
He was sentenced to seven years’ jail, with a parole eligibility on June 11, 2026.
Fofee Kollie
Young dad Fofee Kollie raped a woman after taking advantage of the close relationship with his friend.
The court heard the victim was having consensual sex with Kollie’s friend in a Brisbane’s south home, when Kollie took his place in penetrating the woman.
The aspiring semi-professional football player pleaded guilty to the charge in Brisbane District Court.
The court was told that he was “moderately affected by alcohol” at the time” and stopped drinking after the incident.
He was sentenced to five-and-a-half years’ jail but will be eligible for parole on May 6, 2026.
Mitimale Malama
Young dad Mitimale Malama nearly shot a man dead following a dramatic car chase in northwest Queensland.
The Redbank man pleaded guilty to a string of charges including one count of burglary at night while armed or in company and one count of threatening violence to discharge firearms at night.
The court heard he broke into a house in Mt Isa with a firearm concealed but left in a car after learning the homeowner was arming himself.
He then shot at the homeowner’s car, with the bullet smashing through the front window and narrowly missing the man’s head.
The court heard he was initially charged with attempted murder, but that was downgraded before a committal hearing.
Malama, who represented himself in Ipswich District Court, said he was the youngest in the group and was influenced by his co-offenders.
He was sentenced to two years’ jail, suspended after 18 months for two years.
BUNDABERG
Rhyce Hart
Father-of-three Rhyce Simon Hart strangled his partner and threatened to kill her family one-by-one on more than one occasion.
The court heard the “family man” strangled, hit and punched the then 33-year-old victim before restraining her on the bed and hitting her to cause bruising when she attempted to fight back.
The garage installer also called her “scum of the earth” and “maggot” and told her he had plans to kill her family.
Hart was sentenced to two years’ jail for strangulation, threatening violence, common assault and two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm at Bundaberg District Court.
CAIRNS
Dion Creek
Father-of-five Dion Reece Creek assaulted his former partner until she became unconscious in front of his two children in Yarrabah.
The court heard he lied to her about what happened before she was taken to the hospital to treat her injuries from a bleeding nose, split lip, blurred vision to bruising.
The former chief executive officer of Cape York Land Council also called her 17 times and sent text messages about her location when he was nearby within 30 minutes.
The leader pleaded guilty in Cairns District Court to stalking, common assault and assault occasioning bodily harm.
The court was told Creek had established support services which he would have to rely on for rehabilitation to deal with his work and personal stresses in a healthy way.
He was sentenced to 18 months jail for the domestic violence offences.
HERVEY BAY
Andrew Hovington
Father-of-three Andrew Glenn Hovington bit an emergency housing manager’s nipple before slashing his throat in a violent attack.
He pleaded guilty to going armed so as to cause fear, serious assault and unlawful wounding when he faced Hervey Bay District Court.
The court heard Hovington and his family were given emergency housing at an accommodation provider in Urangan where the manager of the complex approached him as he was playing loud music.
Hovington headbutted him and made his nose bleed before lashing out with a knife that left a 2.5cm wound on the manager’s neck.
The court was told Hovington worked as a labourer and could have schizophrenia despite not having any medical evidence.
He was sentenced to three years’ jail.
SUNSHINE COAST
Oscar Birkmann
Kunda Park father Oskar Bernard Birkmann operated a covert drug dealing business and grew operations for years until a targeted raid brought his offending to a halt.
His offences were uncovered after police searched a rented industrial property in 2023.
He faced multiple charges in Maroochydore District Court including four counts of trafficking dangerous drug.
The court heard he had incriminating messages on his phone and began selling “street level” marijuana to a single customer from 2017.
He had 20 customers who he was supplying with varying amounts daily before he was busted by police.
Police also found a hydroponic growing system at his home to cultivate marijuana, along with about 2kg of harvested cannabis.
The court was told he had a prejudicial childhood however had no prior convictions.
Birkmann was sentenced to three years’ jail with immediate parole.
TOOWOOMBA
Caleb Kirby
Father-of-two Caleb Joel Kirby raped and molested a young child when he was a teenager.
The court heard that he raped an eight-year-old boy and incited him to perform sexual acts as part of a wicked game from 1998 to 2000.
The abuse was brought to light in 2019 following a recorded phone call in which Kirby admitted to and apologised for his crimes.
The court was told Kirby had engaged psychiatric and psychological help following the call, but Judge John Allen rejected his claims that mental health struggles contributed to his offending.
He was sentenced to two-and-a-half-years jail, suspended for three years in Toowoomba District Court after pleading guilty to six counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 (under 12), one count of rape and one count of attempted rape.
TOWNSVILLE
Jason Williams
Father Jason Paul Williams set up a mobile in secret and filmed kids to make child exploitation material to distribute to others.
The court heard the former Burdekin sports coach filmed four children using a hidden mobile phone.
He also used an online application to photoshop the heads of three young girls who were all known to him onto pornographic images of adult naked women, creating 12 images in total.
He then used an app to talk to unknown users and shared child abuse material, with a conversation including a video of himself masturbating to another user.
Williams pleaded guilty to making child exploitation material, distributing and possessing child exploitation material, unlawful recording and using an electronic device to procure a child into a sexual act in Townsville District Court.
He was sentenced to four and a half years jail, suspended for five years and given probation of two years.
He was released to the community immediately after taking into account his 552 days spent in pre-sentence custody.
Originally published as Dads gone bad: Queensland’s criminal fathers exposed
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