Home invasion over former housemate’s drug links

Former drug addicts who took in another drug addict, who claimed he was trying to get away from drug associates, got drunk and went to his new home, punching him multiple times in the head.

Former drug addicts who took in another drug addict, who claimed he was trying to get away from drug associates, got drunk and went to his new home, punching him multiple times in the head.

Kate Emma Gillen, 39, and defacto partner Cameron Antony Tapp, 36, pleaded guilty on June 25 in Rockhampton District Court to many charges including burglary, common assault and assault occasioning bodily harm.

Gillen’s defence barrister Jordan Ahlstrand said the victim was a family friend of Tapp’s who had lived with the couple while trying to get away from the drug scene.

Tapp’s defence barrister Julie Marsden said Tapp had paid for the man’s bus ticket to relocate to Rockhampton and the couple supported the victim on the condition he remained away from the drug scene.

Ms Marsden said the victim did not stick to that condition and they told him to leave.

She said that on the day of the assault, the victim and the couple were exchanging “unpleasant” text messages, with the victim still upset about being kicked out.

The victim told Tapp to stay away from him.

Gillen and Tapp had been drinking alcohol during this exchange on August 9, 2020, and decided to visit the victim at his new residence in Allenstown to “sort out” the situation.

Crown prosecutor Bianca Volling said the victim was in his bed when he noticed his door open and he saw Gillen standing at the door.

She said he asked her why she was there and she responded “you know why we are here, c---” and she walked away, into the living room.

Ms Volling said Tapp was at the front door, near the living room, where the victim’s housemate was attempting to calm him down and kick him out of the house.

She said Gillen pushed the victim outside onto the stairs and into a fence.

Ms Volling said an assault on the victim took place while he was at the fence and being held back by Gillen’s father.

Tapp punched the victim many times and Gillen joined in, punching the victim to the back of the head.

After the victim broke free, he went back inside, telling the defendants to leave.

Tapp walked up the stairs and continued to argue with the victim.

The victim’s housemate again attempted to intervene and calm Tapp down.

While this took place, Gillen entered the house by the back door.

She grabbed the victim from behind and placed him in a choke hold and pulled him to the ground.

Tapp entered the house, pushing the housemate to the side, for which he was charged with common assault.

While the victim was on the ground, Tapp punched him several times in the head and to the side of his face, while Gillen yelled encouragement.

The victim manage to break free, stand up and tell Tapp and Gillen to leave, but they remained and continued to yell until police arrived.

Mr Ahlstrand said Gillen and Tapp had been in a relationship for 6.5 years.

He said Gillen, who had worked in hospitality and as a cleaner, had a history of getting into trouble when intoxicated so had stopped drinking alcohol since this incident.

He said she had started smoking marijuana when she was 12 and moved onto methamphetamines when she was 19.

Mr Ahlstrand said Gillen had been drug free for the past four years.

Ms Marsden said Tapp and Gillen had fled to Victoria a few years ago after other criminal activity took place, with the pair using the time in the southern state to rehabilitate from using drugs before returning to Queensland to have the criminal matters sorted.

The pair relocated to Bundaberg in April as Tapp secured full time employment.

Ms Marsden said Tapp started smoking marijuana in grade seven, speed when he was 14 and was a heavy ice user before rehabilitating.

Tapp and Gillen were sentenced to one year and nine months prison with immediate parole.

Originally published as Home invasion over former housemate’s drug links