Bryce Robert Webbe jailed after threatening to kill his mum at Clermont

A “terrified” elderly Central Queensland woman locked herself in a bedroom as her son, armed with an axe and a blowtorch, called her the “spawn of the devil”, trashed her home and threatened to kill her.

Bryce Robert Webbe was jailed in Gladstone Magistrates Court after threatening to kill his mother at Clermont. Generic image.

It was Christmas Eve when a man living with his mother in Central Queensland threatened to “strip the flesh off” her and burn the house down.

Details of the horrific domestic violence offence which happened at Clermont were revealed in Gladstone Magistrates Court where 42-year-old Bryce Robert Webbe, appearing in custody, pleaded guilty to charges including threatening violence and wilful damage (domestic violence offences).

The court heard that at 9.20pm on December 24, Webbe’s elderly mother called Triple-0 to say he had “smashed up her house and threatened to kill her.”

It was told she locked herself in a bedroom and she was “terrified” that if Webbe knew she was calling the police, he would knock her door down.

Police attended the home and Webbe’s mum rushed outside in a highly agitated state.

Officers saw that she was frail with mobility issues.

When police went inside the house, they saw a “significant amount” of mess and damage including a bent internal door which had been pulled off its hinges.

The court heard that police described the house as “in a state of disarray” with upturned furniture in the lounge room and also in the kitchen.

Appliances were also overturned and among the furniture.

A TV had been removed from the lounge room and was leaning against a kitchen bench.

Further, clothes and paperwork were “strewn everywhere.”

Webbe’s mum told police that he was responsible for all of the mess and she believed he’d done it to make it difficult for her.

Gladstone Courthouse.

She also told officers that Webbe had been verbally abusing her “all afternoon”, calling her vulgar swear words, “standing over” her and walking around the house with a small axe over his shoulder.

The court heard that during the incident, Webbe called his mum “the spawn of the devil” and told her he would “strip the flesh off” her and “burn the house down.”

It was told that when she locked herself inside the bedroom, she heard Webbe activate a blowtorch “on several occasions.”

Webbe’s mum told police that during the ordeal she was “extremely fearful for her safety and the safety of her property” as Webbe had the tools to carry out the threats.

On the night of the incident, police took Webbe’s mother to a “place of safety”.

After Webbe was arrested, he was taken to Clermont police station before being transported to Mackay police station.  

The court heard Webbe’s five-page criminal history included a going armed to cause fear offence, drug and dishonesty offending, public nuisance and wilful exposure.

Solicitor Rio Ramos said Webbe, single with no children, was a qualified geotechnician who, in 2019, moved to Emerald for work.

She said Webbe stopped working full-time in 2020 and subsequently moved to Clermont with his mother.

Ms Ramos said at the time of committing these offences, Webbe was drug affected.

Magistrate Mary Buchanan said this was “extremely serious offending against a vulnerable elderly person”.

She sentenced Webbe to 12 months’ jail, declared 43 days’ pre-sentence custody as time already served, and fixed parole release at April 24, 2025.

Convictions were recorded.  

Originally published as Bryce Robert Webbe jailed after threatening to kill his mum at Clermont