Magistrate issues arrest warrant for man who used work as court excuse

Bundaberg magistrate has issued an ultimatum to a no-show defendant: attend court in January or face immediate arrest.

Bundaberg magistrate has issued an ultimatum to a no-show defendant: attend court in January or face immediate arrest.

A Bundaberg man has been threatened with jail time after he failed to appear in court for a fresh forceful entry charge.

Edward James Joyce failed to front Bundaberg Magistrates court on Tuesday morning, advising he could not make it because of work commitments, Sergeant Vicki Kennedy-Grills told the court.

He was listed for a hearing on December 9, 2025 for one count of unlawful stalking, intimidation, harassment or abuse but did not attend, frustrating Magistrate John McInnes.

Mr McInnes said, upon receiving Mr Joyce’s email, he advised his registry to tell the defendant that he had the option to take leave from work to make the court date.

“His appearance was not excused and the matter remains listed to be a hearing,” he said.

Sgt Kennedy-Grills told the court the prosecution intends to replace his stalking charge with a forceful entry one and is now seeking a no-contact order instead, so “we really needed Mr Joyce to be here.”

Mr McInnes agreed, noting the new charge has to be read and a brief of evidence provided to him.

“For reasons that he doesn’t appreciate he is entitled to an adjournment,” he said.

Upon setting a further mention date for the new charge Mr McInnes pulled up a copy of Mr Joyce’s work roster.

“I’ll have regard to his roster in setting the next date so that he can’t complain,” Mr McInnes said.

He adjourned the matter to January 9, 2026 “to see what he wants to do with the replacement charge” and issued a bail act warrant to lie on file until this date.

If Mr Joyce fails to appear in Bundaberg Magistrates Court for his January mention a warrant will be issued for his arrest.

This does not mean the charges against him have been proven. No pleas have been entered.

Originally published as Magistrate issues arrest warrant for man who used work as court excuse