Jannine Irene Whitehead in Rockhampton District Court for bestiality

What was going on behind closed doors in the case of a woman who committed illegal acts with a dog which were filmed by her then husband have been revealed in court.

Gareth John Miggins and Jannine Whitehead, also known as Miggins, raced greyhounds before they were charged with bestiality. Photo: Mike Knott / NewsMail

A woman filmed by her husband committing illegal acts with their pet Bull Arab dog has told a court that cocaine and ecstasy was part of her life at the time.

Jannine Irene Whitehead, also known as Miggins, pleaded guilty to three counts of bestiality in Rockhampton District Court today – one day after her former husband Gareth John Miggins was convicted for the same offences and walked out of court with an 18-month probation order.

Judge Jeff Clarke said Miggins and Whitehead had been married 14 years.

He said there was a complaint made that Miggins new and current partner was stalking his former wife.

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

“Police came to (Miggins’) place to investigate that complaint… (Miggins) 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.

Miggins, 42, used his phone to film his now former wife with their pet Bull Arab dog three times.

Miggins is visible assisting in the third video, the Rockhampton District Court heard on August 7.

The pair were charged with three counts of penile intercourse with a dog on different dates.

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

Whitehead’s barrister Julie Marsden said her client, who 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.

Jannine and Gareth Miggins, once prominent on the greyhound racing scene, have been charged with bestiality.

She said Whitehead, 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.

She said Whitehead, who has no criminal record, no longer used drugs or alcohol, goes to church and lives with one her daughters, to assist in the care of a grandchild who has been diagnosed with autism.

She said Whitehead had worked in her parents’ bakery after high school, then in officework before becoming a mother.

Ms Marsden said her client had been a small business owner with her now former husband and co-offender and they had trained greyhound race dogs.

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 media reported his charges.

The court heard Miggins is now unemployed, homeless and living a transient lifestyle.

Ms Marsden said her client hopes to work as a disability support worker in the future.

Judge Clarke placed Whitehead on a two-year probation order with the condition that she relinquish ownership of any dogs and not own any dogs during that period.

No convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Jannine Irene Whitehead in Rockhampton District Court for bestiality