Mackay’s domestic violence offenders revealed

From a man described as a danger to women to a dad who beat his son over sexuality, appalling domestic violence cases are on the rise. We examine what’s behind the spike and reveal some of the offenders who have been sentenced.

It was once the crime no one wanted to talk about.

A troubled home was a trouble for the home.

The Mackay District has experienced a rise in domestic violence year on year since 2001.

230 breaches of domestic violence protection orders were recorded in 2001, while in 2021 that figure rose to 1570.

Senior Constable Stephen Smith said it is was heartening to see more people reporting their experience to police and that this was vital for victims to ensure their safety.

“It is bad that it is happening in the community yes, but is it bad that it is being reported to police and that we have the opportunity to interact and deal with it?” the Crime Prevention Unit officer said.

“Almost every police officer would say that we would rather be involved in that process than not have that opportunity to play a part.

“I’ve been in the job for 30 years and I can remember times where it was almost like the community was very reluctant to contact police and report a domestic violence incident.

“That perspective has clearly changed and I think that is a positive.”

Woman domestic violence DV Townsville generic.

Senior Constable Smith’s advice to victims was to reach out for help as soon as possible.

“It’s those disturbing and horrible circumstances that we are all aware of that have happened over the last however many years, if you’re able to reach out for help early you have that possibility of preventing those sort of situations ever coming to fruition or even coming close,” he said.

“It means that those circumstances have the potential to be changed now with the implementation of police involvement, court involvement and all those referral services that are wrapped into that as well to help the victim but also the perpetrator.”

He said while it may be difficult for a perpetrator to admit their behaviour, there were opportunities to reach out for help and potentially change the direction of their life.

“The longer the circumstances go without the potential for change, the chances of it escalating are always going to be there,” Senior Constable Smith said.

As for advice for a neighbour, friend or family member who may be concerned about a domestic situation, he said to trust your “radar”.

“You can hear a raised voice, and everyone has this built-in radar,” he said.

“When you hear something that sounds like more, everyone has this built-in radar that can just be activated in the blink of an eye.

“People know, people can tell when something is not going right and we don’t want residents to ignore that.

“Especially if it is people that you know or it is a neighbour you’ve known for a period of time, and you’re seeing things again that set off that radar where you know something is not quite right.”

He said while it may be uncomfortable to intervene, “we’ve seen what happens when those warning signs are ignored”.

The following list is limited to cases in the courts from December 2020.

It only involves cases where convictions were recorded and without a breach of a domestic violence order.

Here are the cases behind Mackay’s domestic violence cases:

Todd Wayne Stengord

Todd Wayne Stengord’s partner had just told him she wanted to separate on May 24, 2020 when he unleashed a shocking attack on the mother of his children choking her four times.

On the last time she felt like she was going to pass out and the next thing she remembered was on the floor.

He dodged spending any time behind bars.

In July 2021 in the Mackay District Court, he pleaded guilty to multiple counts of choking and common assault, but escaped spending any time in jail despite the court having a default position that choking offenders should serve some time in custody.

Judge Julie Dick said it was an important feature that almost immediately after the offending Stengord proactively sought rehabilitation.

The court heard he had a lack of criminal history and had good family support.

Judge Dick said these factors “allow me to move away from the usual position” of a custodial sentence.

Stengord was jailed for two years wholly suspended for three years, and had to complete 150 hours of unpaid community service. Convictions were recorded.

READ THE FULL STORY

Joel Mark Wayne

Woman basher Joel Mark Wayne was jailed for a brutal attack on his then girlfriend, while on parole for a horror assault on a former girlfriend.

Joel Mark Wayne was on parole over a horror domestic violence attack on a different girlfriend that involved a knife and a broom, when he lashed out against another woman two years later.

On February 11, 2019 Wayne and his former partner had been drunk when a heated argument escalated into violence.

She had been hiding in another unit within the Airlie Beach complex where they lived and had fallen asleep when the 25 year old came banging on the door, before dragging her back to their home by her hair and throat.

“He continued to hold her by her neck and pull her hair while doing so,” Crown prosecutor Julie Aylward told the Mackay District Court in November 2021.

“She kept trying to protect herself … by curling up in a ball and putting her arms over her head.

“He lifted her off the ground by the throat and hair while she was struggling and he shoved her.”

The court heard her face hit the kitchen bench and she suffered a missing bottom tooth.

“I think he’s a danger to women,” Judge Julie Dick said.

He was jailed for 23 months to be suspended after four months for an operational period of 2.5 years. Convictions were recorded.

READ THE FULL STORY

Stephen James Templeton

Stephen James Templeton had gone over to his partner’s home on the evening of May 11, 2021 looking for his golf clubs following a breakdown of their 21-year relationship.

In April 2022 the Mackay District Court heard he behaved like a pest turning on the lights while she was trying to sleep and told her “in not so polite terms” to turn them off herself.

The court also heard the pair began to argue over a holiday she had planned with their kids and he accused her of seeing another man.

The court heard he slapped her while she was in bed before the pair walked into the hallway where he pushed her against the wall and “used his forearm to apply pressure to her throat … or chest”.

The woman was unable to breathe for a few seconds but she was able to talk him into leaving the home. Police were called.

Templeton, 48, pleaded guilty to choking at Mount Pleasant. The court heard he spent 275 days in jail on remand.

“She was in her own home. She had an absolute right to expect to feel safe,” Judge Jennifer Rosengren said.

“It is the most gross abuse of trust that somebody places in you to then assault her in the way that you did.”

Templeton was jailed for two years with immediate parole. The 275 days was declared as time already served.

READ THE FULL STORY

Brendan Peter Fowler

Brent Peter Fowler committed his vile offence during an argument with his partner about disciplining their son.

The victim said she was going to run errands and Fowler told her “if you take my money I’ll call the cops”.

In March 2022 the Mackay District Court heard heated words turned to violence when Fowler pushed her down and wrapped his hands around her throat asking her “is that what you want?”, causing her to briefly lose consciousness.

The 37 year old pleaded guilty to choking on July 16, 2021 at Carmila. The court heard he was involved in domestic violence against four women including the victim.

The court heard he initially lied to police telling officers the victim had caused the marks to her neck herself.

Judge Vicki Loury said she accepted Fowler was ashamed and disgusted over his conduct and that he had since completed a domestic violence perpetrator course.

“It is said that choking is a predictor of escalating violence … in a relationship and indeed it is a predictor of homicide,” Judge Loury said, adding Fowler was teaching his own children “to act as you do”.

Fowler was jailed for three years with parole released on June 15, 2022.

A conviction was recorded.

READ THE FULL STORY

Father assaults six-year-old son for ‘being gay’

A man had a violent outburst towards his six-year-old son over a suspected sexual act before he choked the boy’s mother until she passed out.

The Mackay father-of-three — who was due to be out of jail just before Christmas 2021 — bashed his young son after walking in on him sitting on another boy’s lap in what he thought was a “sexual engagement”.

The 28-year-old landscaper became enraged, striking his eldest son repeatedly and throwing him to the ground.

The horrific act on August 16, 2020 caused a number of bruises to the child’s leg, triggering a spate of domestic violence which broadened to target the mother of his children.

In August 2021 the Mackay District Court heard the landscaper had yelled at his sons saying “being gay is wrong”, and “if they were adults I would have killed them”.

The father then pushed the mother against a wall, grabbing at her neck and face, telling her “you better f**k me after this”.

The man guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, choking, attempting to pervert justice, and five counts each of common assault.

Judge Tony Moynihan sentenced the man to three years in jail with a parole release date on December 18, 2021.

The father had already spent 371 days in pre-sentence custody.

A conviction was recorded.

READ THE FULL STORY

Pop labelled ‘despicable’ for beating vulnerable grandson

A grandfather has been rebuked in court for trying to excuse why he violently beat and bruised his nine-year-old grandson.

In December 2020 in Mackay Magistrates Court, prosecutor Sergeant Marcus Hahn said the child was taken to his paternal grandfather’s house in a town south of Mackay on October 14 this year, after his father “got sick of him”.

“(The child) didn‘t want to be at pop’s so he was sitting in the tyre out the front,” Sergeant Hahn said.

“Pop came to the door and told him he had to the count of three to come into the house.

“He was still angry and didn‘t listen to Pop who then came out and put a belt around the victim’s chest.

“Pop grabbed (the child) by the back collar of his school shirt … and pulled it against his throat so he couldn‘t breathe.”

Sgt Hahn said the grandfather then dragged the choking boy across the yard and into the house.

“The victim was crying and they‘d barely made it inside when pop slammed him a couple of times around the head,” he said.

“Then when they were fully inside, Pop pushed him into the couch and slapped him a couple of times again and then punched him in the stomach.”

Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan said although the grandfather pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm, the “absolutely despicable” nature of the offence had to be met with a jail sentence to send a message the behaviour was unacceptable.

She sentenced him to nine months jail with immediate parole and also strongly recommended he do a parenting course while on parole.

A conviction was recorded.

READ THE FULL STORY

*For 24-hour support phone Queensland’s DVConnect on 1800 811 811, MensLine on 1800 600 636 or the national hotline 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

Originally published as Mackay’s domestic violence offenders revealed