Mackay council worker Kevin John Dever charged with stalking

A Queensland council worker, who allegedly stalked his former partner and two of her male friends has pushed to have his strict bail conditions reduced as new case details are revealed.

A Mackay council worker accused of stalking his former partner and two of her friends has had his bail conditions altered days after he was released on “excessive” conditions.

Police allege Kevin John Dever approached his former partner’s home multiple times, was spotted in the street next to her workplace and sent her 954 text messages.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard there were also allegations of damage to his former partner’s property and she had “moved three times out of fear” in relation to the conduct.

Mr Dever is charged with unlawful stalking – DV against his former partner between January 1 and June 24, 2022 in Mackay.

The 56-year-old Walkerston father is also charged with stalking two of her male acquaintances between April 29 and June 6, 2022, also in Mackay.

On August 16, Mr Dever was released on strict bail conditions that included wearing an angle monitor, a 10km exclusion zone from Mackay except to attend court weekly reporting to police and a drug and alcohol prohibition order.

Mackay council worker Kevin John Dever is charged with stalking his former partner and two of her friends.

On that day, defence solicitor Adam Harvey said Mr Dever would be contesting the stalking charges against the two men during a bail bid for his client.

“On my instructions, Mr Dever has no idea who these people are,” Mr Harvey said, adding these particular stalking charges were “not the strongest case” and the allegations were “of the least serious variety”.

“His contact amounts to him being a pest.”

Mr Harvey conceded the stalking case against Mr Dever’s former partner was “much stronger”, that his client admitted to “sending a great volume of … text messages”, but said the messages were not of a violent nature.

Mr Harvey added they were “more accurately described as Mr Dever being a pest”.

Acting Magistrate Athol Kennedy described the 954 text messages as “extraordinarily excessive” and said there was “good evidence” to allege he had stalked his former partner’s male acquaintances.

The court heard Mr Dever lived in Walkerston and helped care for his former mother-in-law, who lived with him.

“He pays the rent on the property … he’s employed with Mackay Regional Council as a labourer concreter,” Mr Harvey said.

Mr Kennedy said his main concern was Mr Dever committing further offences, but decided to grant bail on a number of conditions including an ankle bracelet with an exclusion zone 10km from Mackay police station except to attend court.

The matter was brought back to court on August 22 and Mr Dever’s bail was altered, removing the 10km exclusion zone and prohibition against drug and alcohol use.

Mr Dever had his “excessive” bail conditions altered.

Solicitor Marcus Hahn, of McKay’s Solicitors, said his client, who had been employed with the council for 16 years total, had not been able to go to his place of work at Paget because of the bail conditions.

“At the moment he’s on recreational leave,” Mr Hahn said, adding his client’s supervisors had spoken to Mr Dever “about standing him down”.

The court heard his area manager was willing to switch his duties locations in Walkerston or Northern Beaches, which would be in compliance with his bail.

The court heard following his bail application Mr Dever had planned to transfer his role to Walkerston.

Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan said she believed a better option was for Mr Dever to keep wearing the tracker but to be prohibited from approaching within 200m of the alleged victims, labelling the 10km exclusion zone as “excessive”.

“If he’s worked for the council for 16 years and he’s precluded from his job, there are other ways to achieve his bail,” Ms Hartigan said.

“And if there’s a report that he’s going within 200m … because he’s lurking outside one of the people’s work or homes, it’s a breach of bail and it’s likely on these charges he wouldn’t get bail again.

“Bail conditions should only be as onerous as necessary in the circumstances.”

Mr Dever must still wear a tracker but he is prohibited from approaching within 200m of the three alleged victims or going within 200m of their homes or places of work.

Matters were adjourned to a date in September.

Originally published as Mackay council worker Kevin John Dever charged with stalking