Michael Christopher Chick sentenced over Bundaberg stalking

A serial domestic violence offender ignored court orders, stalking his ex-partner seven times in one month while on bail.

Michael Christopher Chick has pleaded guilty to stalking his ex girlfriend in Bundaberg.

A 39-year-old Bundaberg man has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for stalking his former partner over a five-month period, breaching both a domestic violence order and court-imposed bail.

Michael Christopher Chick pleaded guilty in Bundaberg District Court to two counts of unlawful stalking, one of which was aggravated. He has been in custody since December 22, 2024.

Judge Nathan Jarro told the court the offending followed the breakdown of a relationship that lasted “around three and a bit years”.

“After the relationship ended, which you couldn’t get it through your mind that it had, you persistently pursued the complainant in circumstances where she made it plain to you that, that conduct was not wanted,” Judge Jarro said.

Chick began stalking his ex-partner in December 2023.

He sent her messages, called her, followed her in his car, and drove past her house.

On one occasion, a neighbour noticed his “bizarre behaviour”.

Michael Christopher Chick, guilty of stalking his ex girlfriend.

“You were spoken to by police … on 9 July 2024, where you … gave them a self-serving account of the events, claiming that there had been minimal contact with the complainant … which was not the case,” Judge Jarro said.

Chick was arrested on July 25 and granted bail, which was later enlarged on August 9.

Among the conditions was not contacting his ex “in any way, which included phone or social media.”

However, Judge Jarro said Chick went on to breach those conditions repeatedly.

“Count two though, occurred and commenced from 24 August 2024, where despite those prohibitions … you made yourself known to her on at least seven days, including multiple times on those days.”

“You called the complainant against her wishes. You approached and followed her in your car against her wishes … that subsequent offending for count two was further aggravated by the fact that not only was there a domestic violence order in place, but there were also bail conditions.”

The court heard Chick had a two-page criminal history, including domestic violence offending and five breaches of orders — one involving the current complainant.

“You’ve had the benefit of receiving fines in the past with no convictions being recorded,” Judge Jarro said.

“You should be ashamed of yourself, Mr Chick. You should be ashamed of yourself because you’re a mature man.”

Chick told his legal team that he hoped to move in with his parents at Monto however, the court also heard he hoped to resume his work in Bundaberg.

“I would hope that what you tell your defence counsel … is accurate, and that is that this has been a significant wake-up call for you … you instruct your counsel that you have no intention whatsoever of contacting the complainant again,” Judge Jarro said.

Chick was sentenced to two and a half years’ imprisonment with immediate parole.
A total of 221 days was declared as time already served.

“You must not commit another offence because if you do, Mr Chick, your parole … will be cancelled and you’ll be sent to prison,” Judge Jarro warned.

Originally published as Michael Christopher Chick sentenced over Bundaberg stalking