LISTED: Qld’s social media stars who faced court in 2024
From drink driving, to fraud, to a “haymaker style” assault on a pizza shop worker, see the “embarrassing” acts that saw Queensland’s social media stars make headlines for all the wrong reasons in 2024.
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These social media stars, with hundreds of thousands of followers between them, landed themselves in legal hot water as they faced South East Queensland’s courts in 2024.
With a variety of offences ranging from fraud, to drink driving, to a “haymaker style” assault on a pizza shop worker, see the “embarrassing” acts that saw them make headlines last year for the wrong reasons:
NO CONVICTIONS RECORDED:
JAYLIE BONOW – BRISBANE
The travel influencer, with over 100,000 Instagram followers, pleaded guilty at Brisbane Magistrates Court in December to fraud and accessing a private computer while working for Queensland Health.
Bonow, who goes by Jaylie Tori online, appeared at her sentence via phone from Western Australia where she now resides.
The court heard she had illegally used a restricted Queensland Health computer while working for them at Chermside on August 24, 2017.
She had illegally obtained and used three other people’s drivers licences in order to commit the computer offence, in which she gained access to phone numbers and provided details to her boyfriend.
Magistrate Ross Mack said Bonow “might have succumbed to some pressure from a violent man” but still “had a choice and … made the wrong choice”.
He fined Bonow $3000, and no convictions were recorded.
Bonow previously made headlines after posting about feeding a roast chicken to a four-metre saltwater crocodile in North Queensland.
The Department of Environment said they were still investigating the incident at the time of Bonow’s unrelated court sentence.
TYLA COOK – SUNSHINE COAST
The Instagram influencer with nearly 30,000 followers faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court in July alongside her boyfriend Bae Stephen Gallop for drink driving.
The duo had been drinking at the Kawana Waters Hotel on June 15 before taking turns to drink-drive home, the court was told.
Cook was witnessed sideswiping another vehicle in the car park about 8pm, causing “extensive front damage”.
After police tracked the duo down, Cook returned a BAC of 0.127 per cent and Gallop returned a BAC of 0.123 per cent.
They both pleaded guilty to driving over the middle alcohol limit, with Cook also pleading guilty to an additional charge of failing to comply with duties of a driver involved in a crash.
Cook was fined $1550 and disqualified from driving for six months – but was granted a restricted work licence.
Gallop was fined $650 and disqualified from driving for four months.
MARLETTE LE-FEUVRE – GOLD COAST
The competitive bodybuilder and Instagram influencer was ordered to complete 150 hours of community service in May.
She pleaded guilty at Southport Magistrates Court to offences including possessing dangerous drugs and failing to properly dispose of a needle or syringe.
The court heard police had uncovered quantities of cocaine, MDMA and steroids at Le-Feuvre’s Maudsland home in October 2023.
There was no suggestion that Le-Feuvre had used the cocaine or MDMA.
Police also found a vial of adrenaline, which Le-Feuvre had mistakenly left in her paramedic uniform pocket.
The court heard Le-Feuvre had been a paramedic for nearly eight years but had been suspended by the Queensland Ambulance Service shortly after being charged.
She had since stopped using substances, and taken steps to address mental health impacts following her “embarrassment” at having her offending exposed.
No convictions were recorded.
LACHIE PORTER – SUNSHINE COAST
The Mooloolaba influencer faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court in July for a Facebook Marketplace fraud.
At the time of his court appearance, Porter had more than 7000 followers on Instagram and 23,000 on TikTok.
The court heard Porter had advertised an Apple iPhone 12 for $400, and agreed to sell it for $370 to a woman in northern NSW.
The woman paid $185 upfront, telling Porter she would pay the rest when she received the device.
But upon receiving the $185, Porter removed the online advertisement and never posted the phone.
He pleaded guilty to fraud and was fined $350 – plus an additional $185 in compensation for the victim.
TYLAH ANN SHORTER – SUNSHINE COAST
The young hairdresser, with more than 39,000 TikTok followers, faced Caloundra Magistrates Court in June for punching a pizza shop owner.
The court heard Shorter’s “haymaker style” punch had knocked the man’s glasses off, causing them to break on the floor.
Prior to the assault, Shorter’s co-offender had falsely claimed she had ordered and paid for a pizza and the pair became verbally abusive to staff.
Shorter pleaded guilty to charges of serious assault of a person over the age of 60 and public nuisance.
The court heard she had been intoxicated and suffering personal issues at the time of the offence, but had since completed an alcohol and anger management program.
Shorter was sentenced to 18 months probation along with 150 hours of community service.
She was also ordered to pay $250 in restitution and $180 for the glasses, with no convictions recorded.
CONVICTIONS RECORDED:
SHELLEY CRONAU – GOLD COAST
The Paralympian, with thousands of Instagram followers, faced Southport Magistrates Court in March for two drink driving charges.
The court heard the former wheelchair basketball star had returned a BAC of 0.216 when police pulled her over while leaving the McDonalds drive-through at Upper Coomera in December 2023.
She was caught drink driving once again with a BAC of 0.108 just two weeks later.
On that occasion, Cronau crashed her car into the median strip on Days Road, Upper Coomera.
Her defence lawyer David Abrey told the court she had started drinking after retiring from her sporting career after an injury.
Cronau pleaded guilty to both of her charges and was fined $1900.
Her licence was suspended for two years, and a conviction was recorded.
SAM EYLES – SUNSHINE COAST
The Youtuber and social media star faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court in April for multiple driving offences.
The court heard Eyles, who runs automotive-focused YouTube channel Built Not Bought, had committed the offences a year earlier in April 2023.
He pleaded guilty to offences including driving an uninsured vehicle, driving or parking a defective vehicle on the road, and driving an unregistered vehicle.
Eyles was fined $1286, and convictions were recorded.
DANIEL TONKIN – FRASER COAST
The freelance photographer, known as Aqua Dan to his Instagram followers, faced court in July for urinating on a car and punching its owner.
The Hervey Bay Magistrates Court heard Tonkin punched the victim in the chest and arm four to five times, before following him and saying “I’ve got a big knife”.
Tonkin pleaded guilty to common assault, urinating in a public place, and contravening a requirement of police.
The court heard Tonkin, who had been drunk at the time, worked as a freelance videographer and photographer in the Hervey Bay area.
He also operated a stall at Urangan Pier Market selling underwater photography.
The court heard the offending had been a wake-up call, and that he intended to see a psychologist to address his PTSD.
He was fined $650 and placed on probation for six months – with a conviction recorded.
Originally published as LISTED: Qld’s social media stars who faced court in 2024
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