Trawlerman Terry Gordon McAlpine, 53, in court for assault

A 53-year-old helped incite a vicious attack and ‘whipping’ of a man at his Gympie home, which ended with one of the other attackers getting stabbed in the stomach.

Terry Gordon McAlpine. Picture: Facebook

A trawlerman who “encouraged” two other men to “whip” and bash a man who, in defence of himself, stabbed one of his attackers, has been jailed for his part in the brutal incident.

Gympie trawlerman Terry Gordon McAlpine, 53, faced the city’s Magistrates Court by videolink to plead guilty to his role in the October 19, 2024 bashing and “whipping” of a Gympie man, which also ended in one his co-offenders being stabbed in the stomach.

McAlpine and his co-offenders, Ashley James McInnes, 27, and a third person who has yet to be sentenced, went to a Gympie home to collect property belonging to a woman McInnes knew, the court heard at his McInnes’s January 8 sentencing.

It heard McInnes launched an unprovoked attack on the victim when he refused to give him his phone so he could check if there were any pictures of the woman on it.

On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, police prosecutor Allison Johnston told the court McAlpine had been an “encouraging” force in the three-on-one assault, telling the other men to “get him, get him” and helping direct the others assailants' to prevent the victim escaping, “trapping him in”.

Terry Gordon McAlpine faced Gympie Magistrates Court by videolink to plead guilty to his role in the 19 October, 2024 bashing and “whipping” of a Gympie man, which also ended in one his co-offender being stabbed in the stomach. Picture: Facebook

The man’s injuries were so severe he needed nine stitches in his head, and suffered bruising to his arm.

McAlpine himself did not assault the man, the court heard.

McAlpine’s defence lawyer, who appeared by telephone, saied there had been a gap in his offending between 2009 and 2020.

His seven-page criminal history included entries for offences including producing, possessing, and trafficking drugs, and weapon-type offences.

He started reoffending after the death of his 23-year-old son, it was told.

The lawyer said McAlpine planned to move to Hervey Bay when he was released and find work in the fishing industry, possible on trawlers.

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The victim of the assault, who required nine stitches to his head, stabbed one of his attackers in the stomach in defence, Gympie Magistrates Court heard.

He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm while in company, as well as two counts each of unlawful possession of a weapon, possessing pipes or drug utensils, producing dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, and possessing ammunition.

These items, which included a loaded gun and a pen gun, were found by police when they searched McAlpine’s home, arresting him a few days later.

The court heard all three men lived in units at the same complex.

Magistrate Bevan Hughes sentenced McAlpine to 15 months jail, and set his parole release date at March 20, 2025.

McInnes, who pleaded guilty on January 8 to assault occasioning bodily harm while armed and in company, was sentenced to two years jail, with parole eligibility from January 27, 2025.

Originally published as Trawlerman Terry Gordon McAlpine, 53, in court for assault