DV offender chased woman with her own car at Gladstone

A Central Queensland domestic violence offender chased his victim with her own car and then on foot during a night-time ordeal that was reported to police.

A man chased his domestic violence victim with her own car, a Gladstone court has heard. Generic image.

A Central Queensland man who chased his domestic violence victim with her own car, has been sentenced.

The man, who by law cannot be named, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to contravening a domestic violence order (aggravated offence).

The court heard that about 9pm on November 26 last year, police received a call about the man “chasing” the aggrieved woman, whom he was not allowed to contact, in a car at Gladstone.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Merrilyn Hoskins said when the woman was questioned about the incident, she told police that she had driven to the man’s residence at 8pm to drop food off for their daughter.

She said the man walked out to her car and grabbed the keys from her and wouldn’t give them back.

The woman said she needed to go to work and she grabbed a bag of clothes and took off on foot.

“(The woman) said she thought (the man) was going to come looking for her, so she found a spot and sat down to message her family,” Sgt Hoskins said.

“She decided she needed to move and then she saw (the man) drive past a few times.”

Gladstone Courthouse.

Sgt Hoskins said the woman went to walk off and the man pulled up behind her and said: “Get in the car and come home.”

The prosecutor said the woman didn’t want to get in the car and she crossed the road and called her mum.

“And (the man) got out of the car and began chasing her - threw the car keys towards her and told her to take the car.”

The man then left on foot.

He breached a suspended sentence when he committed this offence and he had prior domestic violence offending on his criminal history.

Solicitor Cam Schroder tendered a reference for the man which described him as an “exemplary employee.”

Mr Schroder said the man had tried to address his domestic violence issues by attending 18 appointments with Relationships Australia.

“And there are also ongoing appointments in the future,” Mr Schroder said.

He said the man was also seeing a counsellor.

Acting Magistrate Nigel Rees activated the suspended sentence and sentenced the man to six months’ jail with immediate parole.

A conviction was recorded.

Originally published as DV offender chased woman with her own car at Gladstone