7 men jailed after horrific District Court sittings

After two weeks of sittings in the Gympie District Court, five men, including a paedophile, a rapist, two abusers and three drug dealers, are behind bars.

7 men were sentenced to prison in Gympie District Court's May settings.

Judge Porter presided over the last two weeks of Gympie District Court sittings, sentencing a total of seven men for various crimes.

The convicted criminals included a paedophile, a rapist, two abusers and three drug dealers, who were all sentenced to time behind bars as their punishment.

From a drug dealing duo to a 61-year-old grandfather who raped a young girl, here are the cases that were finalised in Gympie District Court between May 3 and May 14, 2021.

1. 61-year-old guilty of child sex offences and rape

A jury took only one hour last Friday afternoon to reach a guilty verdict in the trial of a Gympie man charged with multiple child sex offences, including rape.

John William Spencer, 61, will spend a minimum of two years behind bars after being convicted of two counts of rape and five counts of indecent treatment of a child under the age of 16 and in his care at the time.

John William Spencer (right) leaving Gympie District Court.

Crown Prosecutor Stephanie Gallagher said in relation to Spencer’s crimes, he was opportunistic at times, and other times his actions were premeditated.

She also said both of his young victims were in counselling as a result of the assaults, and Spencer’s actions demonstrated a violation of trust.

“He showed no remorse for his offending,” she said.

“You are dealing with a man who despite the jury’s verdict still refuses to accept that he has been convicted of sexual offences.”

Spencer was sentenced to four years in prison but will be eligible for parole in 2023.

FULL STORY HERE

2. Former footballer jailed for choking partner in Cooloola Cove attack

A former rugby league footballer was convicted of a sickening domestic violence assault on his partner and her daughter in 2018 in a trial in the Gympie District Court this week.

Russell Douglas Johnston, 47, was found guilty on one charge of choking in a domestic setting and two charges of common assault when the jury returned its verdict.

The father of four was found not guilty on two charges of assault occasioning bodily harm, a second choking charge and a second common assault charge.

Russell Douglas Johnston is led from the Gympie District Court after being found guilty of choking in a domestic setting and common assault. Pictures: Josh Preston

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Bernard Porter described a “physical confrontation” between Johnston and his then partner at about midnight on June 30, 2018, which resulted in Johnston choking her enough to interfere with her breathing.

When the woman’s daughter tried to intervene, Johnston picked her up and threw her down on top of her mother, before turning his attention back to his partner by putting his foot on her head “with some force”.

Johnston was given a head sentence of two years’ jail, with a parole eligibility date set for February 10, 2022.

FULL STORY HERE

3. Young Gympie region father sentenced to jail for supplying meth

Separating from his three children was the “catalyst” for a young Gympie region father getting caught up with methamphetamine, the Gympie District Court heard.

Jason Ronald Dunn, 33, faced the court on Wednesday afternoon, pleading guilty to one charge of unlawfully supplying the drug to another person in November 2019.

Jason Ronald Dunn faced the Gympie District Court this week, pleading guilty to supplying methamphetamine in 2019.

Crown Prosecutor Stephanie Gallagher told the court time in custody was a sentence within range for Dunn’s offending, but could have been wholly suspended.

Dunn’s lawyer Chris Anderson said his client’s involvement with supplying meth had been “minor”, but conceded the amount he was caught with was significant.

Judge Bernard Porter sentenced Dunn to 12 months’ jail, suspended immediately for an operational period of three years.

FULL STORY HERE

4. ‘Two black eyes and bruising to the jaw’: Man used electrical cord to attack woman

Gympie man Douglas Seaman was sentenced to three years jail on Monday after being convicted over a bloody and brutal attack that involved a steam mop cord, and which left a woman with two black eyes, multiple bruising to her right jaw, and bruising over her back and shoulders.

Seaman, 45, faced Gympie District Court via video link from custody where he had spent the previous 338 days.

He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, possession of a weapon and breaching bail.

Crown Prosecutor Stephanie Gallagher said Seaman assaulted the woman by punching her several times in the face and body, before tying her hands behind her back with a steam mop cord.

“(He) ...pushed his hand against her neck forcefully, and squeezed her neck in a way that led to bruises but did not restrict her breathing,” the court heard.

Seaman was sentenced to three years in jail but was released on parole on Monday, having already served 338 days in custody.

FULL STORY HERE

5. Undercover police sting nets Gympie drug dealers

Two Gympie region men who were the target of an undercover police sting in 2020 fronted Gympie District Court on Tuesday to be sentenced for supplying dangerous drugs throughout Gympie and the Sunshine Coast.

John Stefan Konkol, 50, and Jason Troy Straun Robertson, 38, both pleaded guilty to supplying methamphetamine.

John Stefan Konkol, 50 (left), and Jason Troy Straun Robertson, 38 (right) were the targets of an undercover police operation.

Konkol pleaded guilty to supplying a dangerous drug, and possessing a dangerous drug and utensil.

Robertson pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying a dangerous drug, and one count of possessing anything used to carry out a crime.

Judge Bernard Porter told the court two officers posed as potential customers to Konkol and Robertson, and said they were interested in buying methylamphetamine from the men.

Konkol was fined $1000, and Robertson was sentenced to 15 months jail.

Robertson was released on parole immediately, and placed on three years probation.

FULL STORY HERE

6. ‘She was quite sexualised’ claimed paedophile stepdad while pleading guilty

A 60-year-old Gympie region man fronted Gympie District Court on charges relating to the sexual assault of his young stepdaughter.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to two charges of indecent treatment of a child under 16, under 12 and under his care.

There were tears in the gallery as his crimes against the young girl were read out.

Crown Prosecutor Stephanie Gallagher told the court the man originally gave a false version of events in the hope of receiving a lesser sentence.

Ms Gallagher said the defendant had said the victim was quite sexualised, despite being under the age of 12.

Judge Bernard Porter acknowledged the offences involved forceful touching.

A victim impact statement from the victim’s biological father detailed the effect the crimes had on the victim. The man was sentenced to nine months in jail with three years probation, which will be suspended after serving three months behind bars.

FULL STORY HERE

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