Alleged Grace Hughes kidnapper Juliet Oldroyd charged with threatening police

A former Darwin teacher and alleged kidnapper was in a ‘fragile’ state when she sent potentially threatening texts to police, a court heard.

A “fragile” alleged child kidnapper and conspiracy theorist allegedly told a police officer that she would “bury him” in a barrage of 4am texts, a court heard.

Juliet Marie Oldroyd, 50, curled into the foetal position in her seat as she appeared in the Darwin Local Court dock for a third time in three weeks. 

It is alleged Oldroyd sent threats to a police officer investigating her involvement in the alleged kidnapping of five-year-old, Grace Hughes.

Police said Grace was taken from a supervised parental visit at an address at Hidden Valley Rd, Berrimah at 1pm on Sunday, August 7.

Police alleged a group had claimed they were helping abduct and hide Grace and her mother, Laura Hinks.

Grace and her mother were missing for 12 days, until a person allegedly connected to a fringe conspiracy group handed the child in to Darwin police on August 19.

Oldroyd is one of five people, including Grace’s mother, arrested in relation to the alleged kidnapping.

The 50-year-old former Darwin High School Japanese teacher was granted bail on August 22.

Only four days later police allege she attempted to pervert the course of justice and made threats against the officer involved in a criminal investigation.

Prosecutor Chris Teng said 18 short text messages were sent to the young male police officer in the early hours of the morning.

“They contain a direct threat to the victim’s children,” Mr Teng told the court.

“The victim gives concern that his family will be targeted by not only the defendant, but her supporters as well.”

 In her first appearance Oldroyd was welcomed into the dock by a round of applause from a packed courtroom of supporters.

But on Friday there were only three in the gallery, her husband and self-proclaimed human rights advocate Craig Oldroyd and two other women.

Defence lawyer Matthew Hubber said the texts were inherently “well intentioned”, arguing

that the warning “I’ll bury you” should not be taken literally.

He said the 50-year-old woman posed “no physical threat” to the young male officer.

“The text messages couldn’t possibly be construed as being threatening,” Mr Hubber said.

“As foolish as this behaviour seems, it is all well intentioned.

“She sent messages she shouldn’t have.

“She obviously flown off the handle and sent these messages.

“For the large part they’re nonsensical … rather than threatening or intimidating.” 

Mr Hubber said Oldroyd’s family had engaged a psychologist, saying “she needs help”.

He said the 50-year-old was “fragile” after masked Territory Response Group officers searched her Anula and Dundee Beach homes.

Mr Hubber said the stress from the police operation, her time in custody and a historic back injury meant she could only sleep for two hours a night.

Judge Therese Austin denied Oldroyd’s application for bail, saying she was not convinced she would comply with her court-ordered conditions.

“(Friday’s) allegations cannot be downplayed,” Ms Austin said.

“It can be seen, in my view, as an attempt to obstruct … the course of justice.

“The intentions of Ms Oldroyd might be, in her mind, justifiable.

“(But) they are able to be seen … as threats to the police officer — that if he doesn’t stand down, make good, not come to her home again, not do what his job requires him to do in the course of the investigation of serious allegations — she might do certain things.”

Oldroyd will return to Darwin Local Court on October 17 for a preliminary examination mention.