Stephen William Simmonds sentenced for night break in of Gayndah home

A drunk father of three who exposed himself and then smashed his way into a family’s home after making threats to kill them came off second best when one of his victims stabbed him repeatedly.

Police and paramedics were called to the scene.

A drunk father of three who threatened to kill a family before smashing his way into their home came off second best when one of the victims stabbed him repeatedly in the shoulder blade.

Stephen William Simmonds, 51, pleaded guilty in Maryborough District Court to entering a dwelling by break at night with intent while threatening violence and damaging property.

Simmonds had gone to the Gayndah home about 9.30pm May 26, 2022, Crown prosecutor James Bishop said.

The court heard Simmonds and the victims were unknown to each other.

The complainant heard something outside and stepped onto the veranda and saw Simmonds, who was intoxicated, walking through his backyard.

The court heard the complainant told his wife to call police and grabbed a knife while telling Simmonds he had to leave.

Mr Bishop said Simmonds screamed abuse at him and told him he was going to come back and kill him, walking into the middle of the road. He then told the victim he was going to come back for the man’s children.

Simmonds then walked up the front steps and exposed his penis to the complainant, while the victim tried to close the door. He told Simmonds he had armed himself and he would defend himself and his children if he came closer.

Simmonds then headbutted the glass sliding door that led to the complainant’s house then kicked the bottom pane of glass until it smashed, Mr Bishop said.

He then bent down and the complainant thought Simmonds was going to pick up a piece of broken glass of the ground.

Simmonds then stuck his head and shoulders through the door, at which time the victim stabbed him in the area of his shoulder blade several times, Mr Bishop said.

Simmonds started bleeding, and the complainant and his wife grabbed towels, applying pressure to his wounds while waiting for police and paramedics to arrive.

He was taken to hospital and was treated for his stab wounds.

Police spoke to Simmonds five days later and he said he couldn’t recall the incident, the court was told.

Due to Simmond’s level of intoxication that night, he still had no recollection of the events of that evening.

There was a threat of violence rather than actual violence, the court heard.

As a result of being stabbed his spinal cord was severed and he had spent several days in hospital in Brisbane in an induced coma.

Stephen William Simmonds, 51, pleaded guilty in Maryborough District Court to entering a dwelling by break at night with intent while threatening violence and damaging property.

The court heard Simmonds had needed to relearn how to walk, had needed to use a walker during his time in custody, and he had been subjected to violence while incarcerated.

He still suffered from nerve damage and impaired movement, particularly down his left side.

While in custody he had signed up for an alcohol misuse program.

Simmonds had previously worked as a house painter and a seasonal fruit picker but he hadn’t been able to work since the incident.

He had three adult children and was living with his son, who was acting as his carer and he was currently receiving a disability support pension.

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In sentencing, Judge Brian Devereaux said the victim had been watching television when he saw the sensor light come on.

He had seen Simmonds in the backyard, carrying a bottle of alcohol.

The victim warned him to leave and said he would defend himself, Judge Devereaux said.

Simmonds said he’d come back and kill him before walking into the middle of the road before again threatening the man and his children.

“This is apparently someone you didn’t even know,” Judge Devereaux said.

Simmonds had walked back onto the property, onto the front steps and exposed his penis, he said.

The victim had called triple-0 and warned Simmonds he was armed and would defend himself.

After smashing through the door, the victim had stabbed the victim in the shoulder blade several times.

The victim and his wife had then assisted Simmonds until police and paramedics arrived, he said.

Simmonds was originally on bail, but failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued.

He had spent a period of time in custody as a result, Judge Devereaux said.

His criminal history showed that alcohol was a problem for him, he said.

“You suffered very serious injuries at the hands of the people whose home you broke into,” Judge Devereaux said.

He sentenced Simmonds to two years in prison, with immediate release on parole.

The 139 days he had spent in custody was declared as time served.

Originally published as Stephen William Simmonds sentenced for night break in of Gayndah home