LIST: 30 criminal tradies who faced Queensland courts
These 30 Queensland tradies proved not-so-trusty when they faced courts across the state for a wide array of disgraceful crimes ranging from drug possession to brutal bashings and disturbing sex acts.
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These 30 tradies faced Queensland courts for various crimes ranging from drunken assaults and drug dealing to disturbing acts against children.
Some are still serving hefty prison sentences today, including an alleged bikie busted with large quantities of meth and a Southeast Queensland boilermaker who committed a gruesome rape.
Others have already served out the entirety of their sentence and are free to live and work in Queensland communities.
See 30 Queensland tradies who broke bad:
LACHLAN ANDERSON – GYMPIE
Civil construction worker Lachlan Anderson faced Gympie Magistrates Court aged just 19 for an “unprovoked” and “cowardly” attack on a good samaritan.
Anderson and a teenage accomplice were captured on CCTV following closely behind young girls and catcalling them in the Gympie CBD on October 30, 2021.
When an older man across the street shouted at them to stop, Anderson approached and kicked him repeatedly in the head, chest and abdomen.
The man suffered a fractured nose and shattered cheekbone.
Anderson pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm and public nuisance.
The court heard he had been abusing alcohol at the time of the attack, but had since stopped.
He was sentenced to nine months jail, with parole eligibility after serving three months in actual custody.
CHRISTOPHER ARMSTRONG – TOOWOOMBA
Oakey coal seam gas worker Christopher John Wayne Armstrong was jailed earlier this year for attacking the mother of his children.
The Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard Armstrong had verbally abused his ex-partner before throwing her to the ground, causing abrasions.
He then pretended to punch her in the face, saying “I will drill you c — t”.
Armstrong had been on probation at the time for assaulting his mother, the court heard.
Magistrate Kay Philipson labelled Armstrong a “serial domestically violent person”.
“The community and myself are sick of people like you, thinking you can go out there and abuse those who care about you,” she said.
Armstrong pleaded guilty to 22 crimes including assault occasioning bodily harm (DV), drug possession, driving with meth and weed in his system, evading police, and possession of a knife and taser.
He was sentenced to six months jail, with parole release on June 20, 2023, and 53 days in custody declared as time served.
His licence was also suspended for two years.
LLOYD BETHEL – IPSWICH
Redbank Plains boilermaker Lloyd Jacobus Bethel was jailed last December for a gruesome rape.
The Ipswich District Court heard how Bethel forced a woman into his car and threatened her with a hunting knife before physically assaulting her.
He then drove to a house, where he laid the hunting knife on the bedside table and forced the woman to strip before raping her.
Crown prosecutor Michelle Parfitt said the woman was “scared that he would stab her with the hunting knife if she refused to have sex with him”.
Bethel pleaded guilty to rape, strangulation, suffocation, assault occasioning bodily harm, and four counts of common assault.
Defence barrister Scott Carter said his client’s behaviour had been significantly impacted by his use of methamphetamine and alcohol at the time.
Bethel was sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment, with parole eligibility on April 17, 2023.
His presentence custody of 775 days was declared time-served.
Queensland Corrective Service records show Bethel currently remains in custody at Wolston Correctional Centre.
PAUL BINGHAM – SUNSHINE COAST
Buderim electrician and father Paul Bingham faced court earlier this year for his disturbing child exploitation material stash.
The Maroochydore District Court heard how police searched Bingham’s home in late 2022 and found child abuse material stored on two online servers.
Crown prosecutor Byron Philp said the content involved girls as young as three, with one server containing 44 video files.
The court heard Bingham also traded the material through instant messaging app Kik on 18 occasions.
Following his arrest, Bingham underwent psychotherapy and was deemed a “low risk” of reoffending.
A psychologist’s report pointed to how Bingham’s drug abuse and alcohol addiction may have contributed to his offending.
Bingham pleaded guilty to nine child abuse material charges and was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.
He was released immediately after spending the 17 days in presentence custody.
Bingham was further placed on 18 months’ probation, alongside a three-year good behaviour bond with a $1000 recognisance.
BART CRIACO – ROCKHAMPTON
Ex-Sunshine Coast roofer Bart Joel Criaco faced Rockhampton Supreme Court in October for molesting a drugged 14-year-old girl.
The court heard another man had met the girl at a central Queensland pool and allegedly gave her and her friend methamphetamine.
The other man is accused of taking the victim back to his apartment, where she passed out and woke to Criaco – and allegedly the other man – molesting her.
The victim escaped and alerted police, who uncovered a photo on Criaco’s phone showing the incident, alongside the confronting caption: “She tastes like fresh milk”.
At the address, they also found 43.66 grams of pure methamphetamine in 64.972 grams of substance, 51.54g of marijuana, and two MDMA tablets.
Criaco pleaded guilty to one count of indecent treatment of a child, one of distributing child exploitation material, one of possessing over two grams of a schedule one drug, and two counts of possessing a dangerous drug.
He was sentenced to five years in jail, with immediate parole eligibility and 572 days of presentence custody declared as time served.
JAYDON GEORGE – GYMPIE
Caloundra labourer Jaydon Lee George assaulted a Woodford prison guard while in lockup for a robbery.
George had punched the guard while walking to his cell earlier this year, leaving the other man with a cut lip.
The Gympie Magistrates Court heard George had “anger issues” which he tried to address in custody.
He pleaded guilty to serious assault of a corrective services officer causing bodily harm, possessing a knife in public, and driving without a licence.
George was sentenced to one year’ imprisonment, with his set parole release date unchanged at December 16.
But when he is released, his sentence will be suspended for a longer period of 18 months.
ABDULILAH GHAFOOR – LOGAN
Logan tradie Abdulilah Ghafoor tore off his customer’s roof while she cowered in her bedroom with her young daughter.
Beenleigh District Court heard Ghafoor, owner of Roofhub Australia, had believed the woman owed him payment.
She had initially hired Ghafoor to repair her roof, but raised the issues with the quality of his work and refused to pay him more money until her concerns were resolved.
Ghafoor stalked the woman for a number of months by sending her text messages, calling her, and attending her address unannounced on multiple occasions.
He finally told her “You didn’t pay me, the sheets are coming off” and came to her house with a ladder.
The woman called triple-0 as she heard a drill whirring, property being smashed in her yard, and Ghafoor walking on her roof.
When police arrived, they found a large statue and pot plant had been broken.
Roof sheeting, a CCTV camera, and lights had been removed, and the water had been turned off.
Ghafoor pleaded guilty to unlawful stalking with violence, forceable entry, and wilful damage.
He was sentenced to two and a half years’ jail with immediate parole.
TED GLADMAN – BUNDABERG
House painter Ted Martin Gladman was lured to a Bundaberg motel during an Argos operation, believing he was meeting a mother and her underage daughter for sex.
Police documents tendered to the court revealed Gladman had responded to an advertisement on a website, which alluded to “the sexual initiation of a young person”.
Gladman began messaging a person he understood to be the girl’s mother, who told him she and her daughter were “looking to meet a guy for fun” while travelling through the region.
He was informed on several occasions the ‘daughter’ was 14 years old.
But Gladman still arranged to meet them, telling the ‘mother’ that he would bring condoms and “take it easy and go at you and your daughter’s pace.”
He was intercepted and arrested by Argos detectives upon arriving at the motel.
In August 2023, he pleaded guilty in Bundaberg Magistrates Court to one charge of grooming a child under 16 years to engage in a sexual act.
Gladman was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.
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RICHARD GOULDING – BUNDABERG
Concreter Richard William Goulding faced Bundaberg Magistrates Court last November for making disturbing threats to his ex.
The court heard he threatened to take the woman at gunpoint to the home of her suspected new partner, who he said he would shoot in front of her.
Goulding also left escalating messages calling her a prostitute, threatening to come to her home, and saying that he would kill her if she went to the police.
The court heard the woman was “terrified,” having previously been assaulted by Goulding.
Goulding pleaded guilty to unlawful stalking, possession of dangerous drugs, driving without a licence, and three charges of theft.
He was sentenced to 12 months prison with parole release on January 14, 2023.
STEELE HEMMINGS – FRASER COAST
Bricklayer Steele David Hemmings had to be handcuffed and restrained on the ground after resisting police during a licence check last year.
Hemmings had already been disqualified for two years when police found him eating McDonalds alone in the drivers' seat in Granville.
Hemmings told police he hadn’t been driving and that he was simply waiting for a mate to return.
But a call to the car’s registered owner – Hemmings’ girlfriend – confirmed Hemmings had taken the car alone when he left the address that evening.
Hervey Bay Magistrates Court heard Hemmings then stomped on a glass pipe that dropped from his pocket during a police pat down, and “pushed back” towards them aggressively.
Police also found 14.63g of cannabis in a glass jar under the driver’s seat.
Hemmings pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, obstructing police, possessing drugs, and possessing a glass pipe used in connection with smoking drugs.
The court heard he had a “troubling history of disqualified driving” and had been on a suspended sentence at the time.
He was sentenced to two months jail with immediate parole and was disqualified from driving for two years.
The remaining 10 months and 17 days jail of his suspended sentence was also invoked.
JOEL HORMAECHEA – CAIRNS
Joel Victor Hormaechea scaled the outside of a Cairns quarantine hotel after receiving raunchy messages from a woman in Covid isolation.
The carpenter, concreter and security operations expert managed to climb up past the first level of the Holiday Inn Cairns Harbourside on December 7, 2021.
He was equipped with a backpack containing almost an ounce of methamphetamine and a set of scales at the time, the Cairns Supreme Court heard.
But when he reached the second level, something attached to one of the balconies gave way, causing enough noise to alert nearby police.
Hormaechea tried to run away, but police gave chase and busted him with the drugs.
Hormaechea pleaded guilty last September to one count of unregulated high risk activity, possessing methamphetamine in excess of two grams, possessing LSD, obstructing police, and possession of scales.
He was sentenced to three years imprisonment with parole eligibility in October 2022, with 273 days declared as time already served.
JAKE KING – MACKAY
Plasterer Jake King was busted with 4g of pure cocaine during a North Queensland police drug sting.
Police searched King’s car after finding him parked outside the home of a person known to be associated with drugs.
Inside the car they found $1600 cash, and multiple clip seal bags containing 22.434g of substance including 4.36g of pure cocaine.
The Mackay Supreme Court heard King had allegedly been linked to an ongoing drug supply operation in Mackay.
But defence barrister Scott McLennan said his client had since “removed himself from his drug-using associates” and sought mental health treatment.
King pleaded guilty in May 2023 to possessing a dangerous drug in excess of 2g.
He was sentenced to two years’ jail with immediate parole.
LIAM KIRSTENFELDT – GYMPIE
Drug dealing tradie Liam Kirstenfeldt told a woman “you’re going to sleep now” while choking her, the Gympie District Court heard at his sentence in January.
Kirstenfeldt had pushed the woman down a few steps of stairs and used his thighs to squeeze her neck, before bashing her with a garbage bag filled with empty cans.
He left the house but returned later, kicking in a glass door and headbutting the woman.
After he was arrested, police found 73 interactions on his phone arranging to sell cannabis to 10 customers between May 2020 and June 2021.
The court heard there had been 50 actual cannabis sales, along with 29 meth sales.
Kirstenfeldt pleaded guilty to 42 charges including choking, drug trafficking, six counts of assault, and 29 counts of supplying a dangerous drug.
He was sentenced to three years’ prison, with parole release on February 16, 2023.
TRENT LAWSON – BRISBANE
Trent Wayne Lawson tortured a woman in a Brisbane hotel room, telling her: “You’re not getting out of this one alive”.
The Brisbane District Court heard the electrical apprentice had punched and kicked the woman for up to five hours on December 23, 2021.
The violence against the 48-year-old victim only stopped after she shouted out for help from the room at George Williams Hotel in Brisbane’s CBD.
The court heard the woman needed a metal plate and screws to rebuild her eye socket after the “vicious attack”.
Lawson pleaded guilty to torture, common assault, wilful damage and stealing.
He was sentenced to six years’ jail, with immediate eligibility to apply for parole.
ALEM MALIC – LOGAN
Calamvale painter Alem Malic faced court last year after police busted him with drugs and cash stashed in his car.
Police had pulled Malic over in Slacks Creek and found 2.5kg of cannabis, $5270 cash, and a set of digital scales.
Malic told police that some of the money was from selling items for cash, as well as working as a painter.
The Beenleigh District Court heard Malic had used cannabis “as a means of escapism.”
He pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs in excess of 500 grams, possessing property suspected of have being used in the proceeds of an offence, and possessing property suspected of have being used in the commission of a drug offence.
He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, wholly suspended.
SHANE MCDONALD – ROCKHAMPTON
Boilermaker Shane Daniel McDonald stole copper wire, a trailer, and fuel during a “prolonged criminal enterprise” spanning six months.
The Rockhampton Magistrates’ Court heard McDonald hit the same electrical business about five times in the span of weeks before looking outside Rockhampton for new targets.
He then stole from multiple mine sites, using the stolen goods to pay for both food and drug bills.
McDonald was told during his sentencing that his critically injured teen son had taken a turn for the worse after suffering life-threatening injuries in a motorbike crash.
Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said she would sentence McDonald to less than the usual one-third in actual custody due to those exceptional circumstances.
McDonald pleaded guilty to five counts of enter premises by break and commit indictable offences, one attempt to enter premises and commit indictable offence, two enter premises with intent to commit, one possession of property suspected used in a drug offence, one possession of illicit drugs, five breaches of bail, one trespass, five enter premises and commit indictable offences, one fraud (dishonest use of bank card), and one stealing.
He was sentenced to 18 months’ jail, with immediate release on parole and 64 days of presentence custody declared as time served.
SHANE MEDCRAFT – IPSWICH
Boilermaker Shane Glen Oscar Medcraft repeatedly threw his partner into walls and ripped out the earrings of her friend during a drunken party rampage.
The Ipswich Magistrates’ Court heard the impact left large holes in the walls of the house, which was a housing commission home.
Medcraft also threw his partner three or four times into a glass greenhouse outside the house, smashing the glass.
He called her a “bikie sl*t” and then physically assaulted her, the court heard.
Medcraft had a violent criminal history and had been on parole at the time of this offending for a home-invasion style offence.
He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm (DV), common assault, assault police officer, wilful damage, and wilfully damage property without consent causing a loss of $250 or less.
Magistrate Kathleen Payne told Medcraft: “When you behave in that manner, the only place for you is prison”.
She sentenced him to 14 months jail, with immediate parole eligibility and three months in presentence custody taken into account.
DAVID OLIVE – LOGAN
Woodridge boilermaker David Anthony Olive’s life descended into crime seemingly overnight after his marriage breakdown.
A Beenleigh court heard at Olive’s sentencing last year how the break up led to his introduction to drugs in 2020.
Police prosecutor Tim Wise said a “voluminous” criminal history followed, featuring vehicle theft, burglary, and fraud.
Olive pleaded guilty last June to unlawfully using a vehicle, entering a dwelling to commit an indictable offence, stealing, and driving while disqualified.
He had broken into a residence and stolen a vehicle to pay off an alleged $1,000 drug debt owed by his sister under threat of significant violence, the court heard.
Olive was sentenced to 20 months jail with 86 days of presentence custody declared time-served.
He was further disqualified from driving for two years.
CORY PARKER – IPSWICH
Concreter Cory Parker was jailed earlier this year for a vile act against a young girl at an Ipswich party.
The Ipswich District Court heard the victim had approached Parker during the party and asked him to change the song playing.
Parker then reached under the table and touched her inappropriately on the outside of her clothes.
The girl told him to stop and later confided in her mother, who alerted police.
The victim provided an emotional statement in court saying the incident had significantly impacted her mental health.
“In public, my body begins to shake … He destroyed my confidence,” she said.
Parker pleaded guilty to one count of indecent treatment of a child under 12 years old.
He was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years.
ZACHARY PAXTON – TOWNSVILLE
Townsville tradie Zachary Robert Paxton was jailed last year for a violent attack on a man who tried to jump the queue at a bar.
The Townsville District Court heard Paxton had been at the front of the line to the Quarterdeck bar at The Ville Resort and Casino.
Crown Prosecutor Tom Hancock said Paxton came to the guard’s defence after another man, who had been drinking, became aggressive when told he couldn’t skip the line.
The other man made a comment about Paxton being uneducated, and Paxton assaulted him.
He punched the man 10 to 15 times in the face, dropping him to the ground and only ceasing when a third party intervened.
The victim was hospitalised and needed surgery, having suffered multiple facial fractures, cuts to his face, and a black eye.
The court heard he was unable to eat solid food for about two months.
Paxton pleaded guilty to a single count of assault occasioning bodily harm, and was sentenced to 18 months in jail.
That sentence was to be suspended after four months in actual custody.
CORY PLOWMAN – IPSWICH
Redbank Plains roofer Corey Jack Plowman whipped his ex-girlfriend during an “abhorrent” and “demeaning” attack.
The Beenleigh Magistrates Court heard Plowman left “numerous marks” on the woman’s body and damaged a TV during the altercation at a Holmview residence.
Plowman’s lawyer told the court there had been some difficulties in the relationship for some time prior to the assault.
“On the occasion in question, there’s been a verbal argument that ensues after she’s come into his bedroom and woken him up,” he said.
“He (Plowman) does accept that he overreacted to the situation and that his behaviour was unacceptable.”
Plowman pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm (DV), wilful damage (DV), and driving without a licence SPER suspended.
He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, along with 18 months probation.
BENJAMIN ROSS – GOLD COAST
Ormeau concreter and alleged bikie Benjamin Luke Ross was jailed earlier this year for a number of meth-fuelled crimes.
The Brisbane Supreme Court heard Ross was caught with meth on three separate occasions last year, totalling more than 350 grams.
On the first occasion, police also uncovered $33,000 cash, ammunition, knuckle dusters, scales and snap lock bags.
Two months later, police intercepted his motorcycle and found 330 grams of GHB, knives, cannabis, and $650 cash, in addition to the meth.
His bail was denied on the third occasion after officers from Organised Crime Gangs Group Taskforce Maxima alleged Ross was an active bikie.
Ross’s defence lawyer argued Ross was simply a heavy drug user and was not “directly profiting” from the large quantities of drugs in his possession.
But Crown prosecutor Alex Baker said the quantities “exceed the heaviest of users,” and further noted Ross had admitted to his psychologist that “he sells drugs”.
Ross pleaded guilty to five serious drug offences including supplying dangerous drugs and possession of methylamphetamine and Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), as well as eight other drug offences.
He was sentenced to five years jail, with parole eligibility from September 14, 2024, and 201 days of presentence custody declared as time-served.
NICHOLAS ROVERE – SUNSHINE COAST
Gold Coast concreter Nicholas Mathew Rovere made thousands selling poor quality drugs to help fuel his own addiction.
Police uncovered messages on Signal and Facebook messenger, revealing Rovere had sold various amounts of cocaine five times between June 2021 and January 2022.
The largest amount was one ounce for $8000.
The Maroochydore District Court heard Rovere’s customers had complained about the poor quality of the drugs.
He had sold drugs to fund his meth addiction, which spiralled out of control after his grandfather’s death, the court was told.
Rovere pleaded guilty to possessing drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of a crime, and nine counts of supplying drugs.
He was sentenced to 18 months jail, with parole release after six months.
JASON STONE – HERVEY BAY
Labourer Jason Terrence Stone stalked a teenager for three months, emailing his school and alleging he had committed sex offences.
The Hervey Bay District Court heard the stalking consisted of five incidents.
Stone had reported to police that the teen had hit him with a car.
He also sent the teenager messages on social media, and approached him outside a Night Owl, yelling at him.
Judge Vicki Loury QC said the offending had an “enormous impact” in the teenager, who was worried for his safety and concerned about the “false allegations” to the school.
Stone pleaded guilty to stalking and was sentenced to two years jail.
He was made immediately eligible for parole, with 196 days of presentence custody declared as time already served.
ALBERT STRAMPEL & NICKOLAS BURNS – CAIRNS
Carpenter Albert Strampel faced Cairns District Court alongside his apprentice and brother-in-law Nickolas Burns for a violent home invasion.
The duo brutalised Strampel’s former employee with baseball bats after the victim claimed he was owed unpaid wages, the court heard.
Strampel had argued with the victim over Facebook messenger prior to the physical assault, with the victim sending a photo of what looked like a noose at one stage.
The court heard Strampel used that photo to convince Burns that he was being threatened.
Burns and Strampel attacked the victim in his own home with the bats, chasing him as he ran into another room.
The victim suffered bruises and a right femoral condyle fracture.
Both Burns and Strampel pleaded guilty to one count each of burglary while in company and one count of assault occasioning bodily harm while armed and in company.
They were each sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, suspended after serving 14 months, with an operational period of four years.
NATHAN VAEVAE – LOGAN
Scaffolder Nathan Gus Vaevae bashed his ex while she was driving, telling her to “start counting” as she had “three seconds to lick the blood off her lips”.
The Beenleigh Magistrates’ Court heard Vaevae had struck the woman twice with the back of his fist while in the passenger seat.
He then told her: “Who the f*** do you think you are, you treat me like a dog … I want to give you a black eye.”.
On a separate occasion, Vaevae threatened to chop up the woman’s family.
Vaevae had a history of extreme violence against the victim’s father, which the court heard had aggravated the threat.
Vaevae had previously been sentenced in 2017 for knocking the older man unconscious and continuing to bash him with a metal bar.
The court heard Vaevae had used illicit drugs in the past and was diagnosed with schizophrenia, which was taken into account during his sentence.
He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm and was sentenced to 15 months’ jail, wholly suspended for two and a half years.
WILL WARREN – LOGAN
Steroid-abusing tradie Will Warren smashed up an elderly man’s car with a baseball bat before trying to attack him.
Security footage was played in the Brisbane Supreme Court at Warren’s sentence earlier this year of a shirtless Warren approaching the car outside a Logan grocery store.
The elderly man had called out Warren’s passenger for littering, and placed the rubbish on the car bonnet when the woman refused to move it.
Justice Elizabeth Wilson said the victim did nothing wrong or provocative in her opinion.
“No person needs to go through that amount of sheer violence that you committed on that car,” she said.
Warren pleaded guilty to ten offences including wilful damage, attempted unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, and five counts of possessing dangerous drugs.
He was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with immediate parole, taking into account 45 days of presentence custody.
Warren was also ordered to pay his victim $1000 in compensation.
BOAZ WEIS – GYMPIE
Goomeri painter Boaz John Herbert Weis caused a woman to flee in fear to a nearby school after he choked her.
He faced Gympie District Court in February, pleading guilty to the choking along with breaching his bail twice.
The court heard Weis and his now ex-partner had been arguing at Weis’s home last year.
The intoxicated Weis tried to pour drinks over the woman’s head and smashed the bottles on the floor beside them.
He then threw her on the floor and squeezed her neck with both hands for 30 seconds.
The woman called police, who found her at a nearby school with red marks on her neck.
Weis later breached his bail conditions by texting the woman 100 times in just a few days.
He was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment, with parole release on May 8, 2023, and 200 days of pre-sentence custody declared as time served.
MATTHEW WHITE – MORETON
Bellmere tradie Matthew Wallace White returned to court last year for pulling out his penis in front of a female lawyer.
The Brisbane District Court heard how White grabbed the back of the woman’s neck and pulled her towards his crotch while speaking to her at Caboolture Magistrates Court.
The woman managed to push him away and call for help, afterwhich White was remanded in custody for 822 days awaiting sentence.
White pleaded guilty to going armed so as to cause fear, assault with intent to commit rape, wilful damage and four counts of serious assault/resist/obstruct a police officer.
The court heard White’s “significant” mental health issues, including schizophrenia, had been exacerbated by drug use.
But he had started receiving treatment to address those issues at a mental health centre.
White was sentenced to 822 days imprisonment, with the 822 days in presentence custody declared as time-served.
Originally published as LIST: 30 criminal tradies who faced Queensland courts
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