Gareth John Miggins has dog ban overturned

A former greyhound trainer who pleaded guilty to bestiality has had a dog ownership banning order overturned just months after it was made. *Distressing content

A former greyhound trainer who recently pleaded guilty to bestiality has had a dog ownership banning order overturned just months after it was made.

Gareth John Miggins was 42 when he pleaded guilty to three counts bestiality in Rockhampton District Court on August 9, 2024.

The court heard Miggins used his phone to film his ex-wife Jannine Irene Whitehead, also known as Miggins, engaged in acts with a Bull Arab dog three times.

Miggins was visible assisting in the third video.

The sexual acts took place on December 29, 2021, January 17, 2022 and July 8, 2022 at Berserker and Norman Gardens, the court heard.

The pair were married 14 years.

Judge Jeff Clarke said there was a complaint made that Miggins’ new partner was stalking his former wife.

The court heard there was a conviction in relation to the stalking allegation.

“Police came to your place to investigate that complaint… you took that opportunity to tell the police that your former wife was a ‘dog f***er’ and the police found footage on your phone of three occasions,” Judge Clarke said.

The court heard Miggins had previously worked as a fire sprinkler fitter until he injured his back in a workplace accident in 2019, receiving a payout which he used to purchase a house and start a coffee van business.

Judge Clarke said the father of three had run a cafe until November 2023, when his charges were reported in the media.

The now unemployed and homeless Miggins was sentenced to an 18-month probation order with the condition that he relinquish ownership of any dogs and not own any dogs during that period.

This week, he made an application to the court to change that order, claiming every family member in Queensland that he could live with owned dogs, which meant he could not live with them.

Miggins told the court he wished to relocate to New South Wales but could not do so while subject to the probation order.

Gareth John Miggins leaving the Rockhampton Courthouse.

However, Judge Clarke advised him community corrections (probation and parole) officers could approve requests for transfers interstate.

Crown prosecutor Bianca Volling advised the court no such applications for variations to bail addresses or conditions had been made.

Judge Clarke said a report from community corrections noted Miggins had been hostile and argumentative when interacting with officers and he was no longer suitable for community-based orders.

He revoked the probation order and resentenced Miggins to pay $900 in fines.

Judge Clarke said he was unable to find any powers in which he could use to continue the dog ownership banning order made as a condition of the probation order.

His ex-wife faced the same charges and in August she was placed on a two-year probation order with the condition that she relinquish ownership of any dogs and not own any dogs during that period.

Her barrister Julie Marsden said she was extremely remorseful and disgusted in herself, had been in allegedly domestically violent relationships in the past and was now on a disability pension due to mental issues.

She said her client, who had sought help for mental health issues before this offending came to light, had been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and possibly suffered from dependant personality disorder at the time of the offending.

Ms Marsden said her client – a mother-of-three and grandmother-of-two – also drank alcohol and took drugs when she was in a relationship with Miggins – cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana.

No convictions were recorded for either of them.

Originally published as Gareth John Miggins has dog ban overturned