Dalby man stalked 18-year-old before alleged assault, court told

A 43-year-old Dalby man who followed and chased an 18-year-old woman in his car during a terrifying ordeal has been called a ‘creep’ by a magistrate.

Damien Deem was sentenced in Dalby Magistrates Court for stalking

A 43-year-old Dalby man has been labelled a “creep” by a magistrate after he stalked a teenage girl for almost an hour and helped facilitate her assault.

Damien Scott Deem appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, stalking and wilful damage after an incident that took place on February 6, 2025.

The court was told at 9.30pm Deem saw the 18-year-old aggrieved pulling out of the Dalby McDonald’s and recognised her as someone who had a history of conflicts with his friend.

Deem began to follow the vehicle with the aggrieved, going through a roundabout and following the victim’s car, driving past her sister’s house. The court was told a CCTV camera facing the street captured the victim being followed.

The victim managed to shake Deem for about 10 minutes before he reappeared, this time with more people in his car including his co-accused, who is yet to enter a plea.

The court was told Deem followed the victim for up to 40 minutes while his co-accused yelled abuse and threw objects at the car.

The victim said she was “too scared to drive home” and pulled into the Windsor Hotel car park where she believed there would be witnesses and cameras before approaching Deem’s vehicle asking him why he was following her.

The co-accused, who was not in court and has not yet entered a plea, then allegedly threw an Ice Break coffee bottle at the aggrieved before reaching through the window, ripping off her necklace and scratching her neck.

Magistrate Kathleen Payne said while Deem hadn’t committed the assault himself he had “enabled a dispute between the two women”.

“A 43-year-old chasing an 18-year-old female for up to an hour is concerning for the community,” she said.

“She’s scared she’s taken footage, and your co-offender is throwing objects.

“It's ridiculous, terrifying and creepy given the age gap.”

When sentencing Ms Payne took into account that Deem hadn't been to court for 20 years and sentenced him to an 18-month probation order.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Dalby man stalked 18-year-old before alleged assault, court told