Police not buying ‘moving house’ excuse after 20cm blade found in Dalby dad’s car

A Dalby dad who attempted to blow up a public toilet with a homemade bomb in 2023 has again faced court after providing police with an unlikely excuse for having knives in his car.

A Dalby dad of eight with a history of strange behaviour has landed himself back in court after police found a number of knives in his car.

Ashley James Van Klaveren, 39 who previously fronted court for trying to blow up a public toilet with a homemade bomb, appeared in the Dalby Magistrates Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to possession of a knife and driving under the influence.

The court heard on January 9, 2025 about 3.30pm police intercepted Van Klaveren’s vehicle on Kookaburra St in Dalby and searched his car for drugs.

During the search police located a 20cm kitchen knife in the centre consol between himself and his 16-year-old son who was driving at the time and is not accused of any wrongdoing.

They also located a flick knife in his pocket.

When police asked Van Klaveren why he had a large knife in his car he told police he was moving house with police noting there were no other items in his car that would suggest that was true.

He also told police the knife in his pocket had sentimental value and was given to him by his grandad.

This was not the first time he had been sentenced for possession of knives.

Meanwhile on January 30 at 12.44pm police again intercepted Van Klaveren on Arthur St in Dalby before subjecting him to a breath test where he returned a positive reading for methamphetamine.

This was the fourth time Van Klaveren had been caught driving under the influence of methamphetamine within the last five years.

Magistrate Kathleen Payne warned the father of the dangers knives possessed to the community.

“Knives in public leads to fatalities, its as simple as that”

He was placed on a 12 month probation, the knives were forfeited and he received a four month loss of license.

Originally published as Police not buying ‘moving house’ excuse after 20cm blade found in Dalby dad’s car