Townsville mother sentenced for stalking child safety officer

A mum who had her young children taken off her following shocking threats she made regarding their lives has been sentenced for stalking a woman.

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A mother has broken down in tears as she was sentenced for stalking a child safety officer, following the department taking her kids away.

The now 37-year-old woman who can’t be named to protect the identity of the kids, was charged with threatening to kill an employee in a 5-month long tirade against the worker.

In Townsville District Court on Wednesday, crown prosecutor Monique Sheppard said the victim who worked in Child Youth Justice was part of creating a communications strategy with the mother who had shown signs of intimidation to the department.

The children were removed from her care in October 2021 and at the end of March 2022 the mother began sending threatening and abusive voice messages and emails to the worker.

“She sent 102 emails, and continued her abusive tirade towards the complainant,” the crown said.

A telephone call made from the department to the mother in August 2022 pertaining to an incident between the woman’s eldest son, reportedly triggered the woman into an emotional spiral and she told the worker “she was dead” and that it wasn’t a threat.

Despite other workers being on the call, it was the one woman who was continually threatened.

“The emails and voice messages made by the defendant would’ve caused particular distress,” the crown said.

“It was her belief she was capable of carrying out those threats.

“She observed the complainant entering her workplace and was required to change her routine.”

Ms Sheppard said the worker’s mental wellbeing was negatively impacted and had trouble sleeping.

The crown explained that the mother had a criminal history consisting of dishonesty offences and contravening domestic violence orders.

In a recorded phone call which formed a contravention of DVO charge she was convicted of, the woman called the father of her children and said she would kill him and their children.

“She said she was ‘going to kill herself, she’s f—king done, come and get these f—king kids and f—k off you’re all mongrel c-nts’ and then she proceeds to talk about in the second call, ‘it’s either you come and get your kids or I will go in there drown them mate, I’ll f—king drown them I don’t care’,” the crown said.

Defence barrister Ross Malcomson told the court his client was diagnosed with complex PTSD after suffering significant trauma and experiencing a domestic violence relationship.

He described that the period of the offending derived from “highly emotional circumstances” and said she had since engaged with therapeutics services and was working to get her life back on track.

The woman who had been crying heavily in court also said that she wanted to study and work to build a more positive life.

Judge Gregory Lynham said the woman’s behaviour had “caused a detriment” to herself and ability to “proper mothering” her children.

“Child safety officers have a difficult job at the best of times,” he said.

He acknowledged however the “appalling” experiences that led her to her diagnosis.

The woman pleaded guilty to stalking with violence.

She was sentenced to 18 months jail, immediately released on parole and a restraining order was made, ensuring she is not allowed near the worker.

Originally published as Townsville mother sentenced for stalking child safety officer