Ryan John Jackson sentenced for stalking, deprivation of liberty in Ipswich District Court

A woman screamed to be let out of a car as her ex-partner grabbed her head and threatened to kill them both, before she escaped by jumping out of the moving car.

A court has heard how a woman jumped out of a moving car to escape her ex-partner who had grabbed her by the head and threatened to kill them both while speeding down a Brisbane road.

Ryan John Jackson, 29, was sentenced for the terrifying ordeal at Ipswich District Court on Thursday.

The court heard Jackson, unable to accept that his relationship was over, stalked his ex-partner between October 31, 2020 and February 2, 2021.

Jackson’s stalking involved threatening to kill himself and her, leaving the woman hundreds of phone calls and messages, doing “drive bys” at her house and showing up at her friend’s homes, the court heard.

Crown prosecutor Amy Stannard said on one occasion the victim woke to about 50 missed calls from Jackson asking to meet her.

The woman said no but Jackson persisted and she eventually said yes, and he picked her up.

Jackson drove the pair to Mount Coo-tha but on the way back he became upset and began speeding, Ms Stannard said.

The woman screamed to be let out of the car but Jackson said “If we can’t be together we are going out together” and sped past the exit to the woman’s house.

He grabbed the woman’s head pulling some of her hair out, Ms Stannard said.

When the car slowed down the woman managed to escape, jumping out of the vehicle and flagging down help.

The court heard Jackson continued threatening and stalking the woman, and threatened to commit suicide on occasion.

Ms Stannard said Jackson told the woman he would “bury her” if she dated other people.

She said one time Jackson locked himself inside with the woman and threatened to commit suicide if she left.

Jackson pleaded guilty on Thursday to charges including assault occasioning bodily harm – domestic violence offence, unlawful stalking uses/threatens violence – domestic violence offence, deprivation of liberty detain/confine – domestic violence offence and breaching bail.

Defence barrister Scott Neaves said it was in Jackson’s favour that he pleaded guilty at an early opportunity.

He said aside from this offending Jackson was otherwise a contributing member of society.

Jackson’s mother and aunt were in court to support him, Mr Neaves said.

The court heard Jackson had spent 288 days in pre-sentence custody.

Judge Dennis Lynch said Jackson had a “good background and upbringing” and had previously worked as a hydraulic fitter but lost the job as a result of drug use.

He said Jackson used marijuana as a teenager and harder drugs later in life, and was a “heavy” meth user at the time of the current offending.

He said Jackson’s behaviour towards the woman had been “abusive and accusatory.”

Jackson was given a head sentence of two years on the stalking offence.

He was sentenced to six months each on the deprivation of liberty and assault offences, to be served concurrently.

He was convicted and not further punished on the remaining offences.

Judge Lynch said Jackson’s 288 days in pre-sentence custody was declared as time served and ordered Jackson to be released immediately on parole.

Originally published as Ryan John Jackson sentenced for stalking, deprivation of liberty in Ipswich District Court