Western Downs’ shocking attacks this last year | FULL LIST

From a neighbour who punched an elderly woman in the face at her apartment complex at random, to a man who bit off a chunk of his uncle’s ear during a drunken dispute, these are some of the shocking assaults that have been before a Western Downs court this past year.

A woman who punched an elderly neighbour in the face during a shocking and unprovoked attack is just one of the offenders who have been before a Western Downs court this past year.

See the full list of terrifying attacks.

Elderly woman, 87, punched in horrifying attack

A mother of two was jailed after she punched an 87-year-old woman in the face in a horrific unprovoked attack before she verbally abused the woman as she waited at the Dalby Hospital for treatment.

Kelly Irihapiti Mea Biddle was on probation for assault at the time she unleashed the shocking attack on her elderly neighbour.

She appeared at Dalby Magistrates Court on July 8, 2022.

The elderly victim pulled into her driveway on January 24, 2022 and saw Biddle, who she recognised as another resident of her unit complex, approaching the car.

Kelly Irihapiti Mea Biddle Picture: Facebook

Police prosecutor Derek Brady said Biddle, 30, walked up to the victim’s car, reached through the window and punched the elderly woman in the eye before walking away.

“The victim said she’d felt pain in her right eye straight away and called her son who took her to the hospital,” Sergeant Brady said.

Defence lawyer Julia Molloy said her client had faced trauma in her childhood, which has caused substance abuse issues throughout her life.

Biddle pleaded guilty to serious assault on a person over 60.

She was sentenced to 18 months’ jail and was released on parole on January 7, 2023.

Read the full, shocking story here.

Mother covers up ex-boyfriend’s assault on her children

A mother has walked free from the Dalby court after covering up her ex-boyfriend burning her young children with a “straight, hot” implement, refusing to take them to hospital to treat injuries they may now never fully recover from.

The pair both appeared in court on August 18, 2022.

Dalby District Court was told the 21-year-old man was staying with his then-partner and her family through June and July, 2020, during which the woman came home on an unknown date to find her two children, aged four and two, with burn marks and bruising to their bodies.

Crown prosecutor Brendan White said the woman’s grandparents also saw the burn marks on the boy’s foot causing him “visible pain” and a wound on his two-year-old sister’s back that was “cracked, red and weeping into her shirt”.

Defence barrister Frank Martin said the mother was struggling with anxiety at the time, which prevented her from getting her children to a doctor or hospital.

The man pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing bodily harm. He was sentenced to two and a half years’ jail with immediate eligibility for parole.

The woman pleaded guilty to one count of failing to supply the necessaries of life, and was sentenced to immediate release on parole.

Full details of the shocking cover up.

Car thief drives at family with pram on footpath

Behind the wheel of a stolen car, a 20-year-old father-to-be sped along a Dalby street and aimed the vehicle at a young family walking along a footpath before they were forced to take evasive action.

Caleb Hayden Hearn was berated in Dalby Magistrates Court on September 12, 2022 when he appeared by videolink.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said Hearn was heard revving a car along the street on March 9 last year before he drove at speed towards a family who were walking along the pathway with their two kids.

“One child was walking with a parent, the other was being pushed in a pram,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

Caleb Hayden Hearn Picture: Facebook

The court was told the man had also broken into an elderly couple’s home and stole their car which he would use to drive at the family, then broke into a local business and took off with a motorbike along with another string of reckless offences.

Magistrate Kerrie O’Callaghan pointed out that Hearn was already sentenced to 15 months’ jail earlier in the year for a burglary offence and was on parole at the time of the most recent offending.

“You caused great fear to a young family and stole a car from an elderly couple and then drove it erratically,” she said.

Hearn pleaded guilty to a total of 28 charges which consisted of two counts of dangerous operation of vehicle, two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm, evading police, stealing, wilful damage, entering a dwelling to cause an indictable offence and a list of driving charges.

He was sentenced to 12 months’ jail and disqualified from driving for two years.

Read the full story.

Man’s vicious assault on twin brother with tyre iron

A Dalby man who, according to a magistrate, could have “killed” his own brother after attacking him in the head with a tyre iron was sentenced in court earlier this year.

The father of four appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court on March 28 after he committed a string of “violent” and “vicious” attacks on his own family member, and attempted to “control” the mother of his children by threatening acts of self-harm.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said the 51-year-old began arguing with his brother after arriving home from work on February 13, which led to the man punching his brother in the eye.

“When (the victim) approached his brother downstairs he attacked him again by throwing more punches,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

“He picked up a metal jack handle and struck (the victim) in the head.”

Defence lawyer Julia Molloy said her client had been engaged with counselling while serving his second probation order for contravening a domestic violence offence.

The man pleaded guilty to two counts of contravening a domestic violence order.

He was sentenced to four months’ jail, wholly suspended for 12 months and his probation order was extended for seven months.

See the full story.

Man commits violent robbery, severely injures victim

A young Chinchilla man who had just turned 18 went to a man’s house not once but twice to intimidate the victim before launching a violent robbery, stealing his clothes.

Malakai Robert Lee Conway appeared in Dalby District Court on May 10 where he was sentenced for a string of violent offences committed on August 22 and September 3 in 2021.

Crown prosecutor Andreas Galloway said on during the second occasion when Conway arrived at a residence with a group of 10 people, he grabbed the victim by the throat and applied pressure.

The man’s Nike shoes and watch he was wearing were taken from him while Conway had his hands around his throat.

Malakai Robert Lee Conway was sentenced at Dalby District Court for two counts of assault, wilful damage and robbery in company with violence. Picture: Facebook

Mr Galloway told the court the victim was left with a long list of injuries including bruising and swelling to the eye, cuts to the lip, upper back and shoulder, bruising to the ribs, collar bone and knuckles and had to be transferred from Chinchilla to Toowoomba Hospital.

Defence barrister Jens Streit said Conway’s behaviour had been influences by his upbringing as he was surrounded by drug use at an early age.

Conway pleaded guilty to two counts of assault, one count of wilful damage and one count of robbery in company using violence.

He was sentenced to a total of two and a half years’ jail, released on immediate parole.

Read the full story.

Man assaults teenage boy in terrifying attack

A man who claimed to be “ashamed” of his actions after he launched a terrifying assault on a teenage boy who was crying for help during the attack fronted court earlier this year.

Leon Shane Pedder appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court on May 31 after he snapped at a 13-year-old boy by pushing him against a wall, throwing him to the ground then pushing his boot into the teen’s chest.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said the 50-year-old man and the teen were both living at a Gladstone apartment complex, which had seen an increase in “youth congregation” at the building which caused concern for tenants worried about skating accidents.

On June 18, 2022 the teen was walking down the complex stairwell when he was approached by Pedder who “immediately” grabbed the front of the boy’s shirt.

“He smashed him against the brick wall and said ‘stop hanging around here, I’m sick of you kids’,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

“(Pedder) threw him to the ground and put his boot on the (teen’s) chest and applied pressure to prevent him running away.

“The victim started crying, (Pedder) made threats towards the victim that he was going to ‘bash him’.”

Defence lawyer Tessa Boardman said her client now resides in Miles after his car broke down in the rural town while on the way to Tasmania and was “completely ashamed” of his behaviour.

Pedder pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm and wilful damage.

He was sentenced to two years’ probation and ordered to pay $297 in compensation for the damaged phone.

Full story.

Man bites uncles ear in drunken argument

A man sat in the court’s dock with his head hung in shame while he was sentenced for attacking his uncle in a whirlwind of events that included him biting a chunk of his relative’s ear off and spitting it out.

William Thomas Garrahy appeared at Dalby District Court on July 19 after serious assaulting his 82-year-old uncle.

Crown prosecutor Cameron Wilkins detailed the “disgraceful” event, which started off as a usual family gathering at his uncle’s home at The Gums on May 8, 2022.

Mr Wilkins said the victim had told his 40-year-old nephew to go to bed after he had drunken “far too much” when Garrahy replied, “I oughta f--king kill you”.

William Thomas Garrahy, 40, was sentenced at Dalby District Court on July 19, 2023 for three counts of serious assault of a person over 60 and one count of assault occasioning bodily harm. Picture: Facebook

The court was told the nephew grabbed his uncle by the throat before headbutting him three times, then bit down on the top of his ear taking off a chunk before spitting it on the ground then continued to bite the ends of his uncle’s fingers.

Defence barrister Scott Lynch said his client was “utterly disgusted” with himself as he viewed his uncle as a “mentor” figure and offered to pay $5000 in compensation to his uncle.

Garrahy pleaded guilty to three counts of serious assault of a person over 60 and one count of assault occasioning bodily harm.

He was sentenced to two years’ jail, immediately released on parole and ordered to pay the $5000 in compensation.

Full details of the disturbing assault.

Woman degloves elderly man in horror carjacking

The horrific carjacking of an elderly man who was trying to assist a woman on a Western Downs highway, progressed into a shocking series of offences that ended with the woman biting two police officers during a scuffle.

Ashliegh Meagan Lawton appeared at Dalby District Court on July 19 after she committed a string of bizarre crimes in Tara.

Crown prosecutor Cameron Wilkins told the court on October 13, 2022 the woman flagged down a 94-year-old man who was driving to golf at Chinchilla, and asked if she could use his phone.

“She grabbed him by the arm and pulled him out of the car,” Mr Wilkins said.

“He landed on the bitumen and was dragged a short distance by her, before she got into the car.”

Ashleigh Meagan Lawton Picture: Facebook

It was during this assault the woman “degloved” the elderly man and left him with cuts to his eyelids, nose and forehead.

During her arrest later in the day, the woman bit two officers on the fingers and tested positive for hepatitis C.

Defence barrister Frank Martin labelled the woman’s tirade as ‘bizarre’ and said she had a history of drug and alcohol abuse.

Lawton pleaded guilty to robbery using violence, unlawful use of a vehicle and two counts of serious assault.

She was sentenced to 33 months’ jail, with a parole release date of October 17.

Read the horrifying details.

No conviction recorded

Camper punches elderly man in face at Tara Festival

A festivalgoer who punched an elderly man in the face, causing him to fall backwards onto a table before being taken to hospital with facial injuries was sentenced at Dalby court on September 14, 2022.

Glen Scott Philips was talking loudly on the phone late at night on July 28 last year while camping next to the year 72-year-old victim and his wife.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said Philips, 52, had consumed eight drinks before he tapped on the older man’s caravan window and said, “I need to talk to you”.

“When he opened the window, the victim asked him to be quiet and (Philips) said, ‘You say one more word, I’m going to bash you in the face’,” he said.

Glen Scott Philips Picture: Facebook

The court was told the older man asked him to keep it down again before Philips punched him in the face through the window, with the older man falling backwards onto a table.

“His nose and lip were bleeding and he was taken to Tara Hospital,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

Defence lawyer Julia Molloy said her client accepted there was no excuse for violence.

Philips pleaded guilty to serious assault of a person over 60.

He was placed on a $500 good behaviour bond for six months and ordered to pay $1000 compensation to his victim. No conviction was recorded.

Full story.

Mother’s chilling church attack

A mother said her decision to enter a Dalby church and carry out a chilling attack that involved dubbing members ‘Satanists’ and assaulting another woman was a matter of “life and death”.

Mollie Rachael Bruce sent an email to her victim shortly before she attacked her, warning the church not to hold its communion that afternoon or she would “flick their sh-t”.

She appeared at Dalby Magistrates Court on November 18 last year.

Police prosecutor Derek Brady told the court 27-year-old woman walked into the Pratten St church on August 9, 2022 and found the other woman in the office.

“She stated ‘we’re all Satanists and your blood will be on my hands’,” Sergeant Brady said.

Mollie Rachael Bruce.

The court was told the victim tried to lock herself in the room, however Bruce pushed the door open and caused the woman to fall back on the printer, before Bruce threw a filing tray, lunch box and tissue box at her as well.

Defence lawyer Julia Molloy said her client described herself as a “believer” and claimed the assault was a matter of “life or death”.

Bruce pleaded guilty to entering a premises and committing an indictable offence, wilful damage, common assault and possessing drugs and utensils.

She was placed on probation for nine months, no conviction was recorded.

See the full story.

Woman gropes police, refuses to leave ex’s house

A woman was condemned for her ‘bizarre’ first-time offence after she refused to leave her ex-boyfriend’s home before groping a police officer’s crotch.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins told Dalby Magistrates Court that Paula Jane Browne, 52, had stayed at a man’s Rangemore property overnight on December 22, 2022 before he left to go to work the following day.

When the man returned, he found the woman still there and asked her to leave to which she replied, “I think I’m staying, you can’t make me leave”.

Sergeant Hutchins said police arrived at the property that afternoon where they found the woman laying on a bed and told her she would be under arrest if she didn’t leave the property, to which she replied “go your hardest”.

After being arrested and at the police station, the woman attempted to grab an officer’s crotch before her hand was deflected, but succeeded when she tried again and said “nice a—” to the policeman.

Defence lawyer Sarah Campbell said her client had helped the man with farm work that morning and consumed cans of rum that were in his fridge.

“She herself is at a loss at why someone at 52 with an unblemished history has committed such bizarre behaviour,” Ms Campbell said.

Browne pleaded guilty to trespass, assaulting and obstructing police, wilful damage and breach of bail.

She was fined $1100 total and no conviction was recorded.

Read the full details.

Originally published as Western Downs’ shocking attacks this last year | FULL LIST