Toowoomba man who police allege raped ex-partner released on Supreme Court bail

A Toowoomba man accused of raping his former partner while a protection order was in place has been released on Supreme Court bail despite police’s concerns.

Photo: Valerie Horton

A recidivist domestic violence offender accused of raping a former partner will be released from custody on Supreme Court bail.

The Department of Police Prosecutions objected to the man’s bail application, which was granted before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court in late April.

The court was told police held concerns given the man’s manipulative personality and history of breaching domestic violence orders.

The man strongly denies the rape allegation however the court was told the police believe they have a strong case, which includes a witness who will testify they walked in on the alleged sex offence.

The court was told the bail application was partly heard because magistrate Mark Howden wanted to review the matter further and read a number of letters written to the woman by the former partner from jail.

The woman said the accused asked her to withdraw the rape complaint, and that the communications were coercive and victim blaming.

However, Mr Howden said he couldn’t find anything of that nature in the letters.

The court was told the man pleaded guilty to unrelated charges earlier in April before the Toowoomba District Court, where he was sentenced to serve 213 days of an 18-month jail term.

He remained in custody due to the outstanding and contested rape charge.

The father has been in custody since September 2024.

When handing down his decision, Mr Howden said he had been persuaded by the man’s solicitor to grant the bail application.

However, he imposed onerous bail conditions which included an ankle monitoring device that would alert police if he went near the woman’s home or if he was breaching his curfew.

While on Supreme Court bail in Toowoomba, the man, who is in his 30s, is not allowed to use drugs or drink alcohol, nor possess weapons.

He will also have to put a mental health care plan in place as soon as he is released, undergo counselling, and complete a men’s behavioural change program.

The court heard the matter will likely be a trial by jury before a higher court sometime in 2026.

Originally published as Toowoomba man who police allege raped ex-partner released on Supreme Court bail