Yeppoon DV offender Dayne William Reed Keefe in court for drug possession

An aspiring pub manager and musician jailed last year for throwing a duck coop at his partner and choking her has fronted court again 10 months later with a heartbreaking story.

Dayne William Reed Keefe, 30, fronted Rockhampton District Court for breaching a suspended sentence.

An aspiring pub manager and musician jailed last year for throwing a duck coop at his partner and choking her has fronted court again for drug possession after losing two close family members – one to cancer right after his release from prison.

Dayne William Reed Keefe, 30, fronted Rockhampton District Court last week for breaching a suspended sentence handed down to him on December 13 last year for offending that took place over a protracted period with elements of coercion and control.

Keefe’s partner exited the house to put the ducks away and Keefe made comments about killing the ducks as they continued to argue.

Keefe then picked up the duck coop and threw it at the young woman, missing her, and she ran back inside the house and into the bathroom.

He followed her, picked up shampoo bottles and threw them at her.

Keefe continued his offending against the victim with the final act being him choking her to the point she couldn’t speak, her body became numb, her vision blurred and she was no longer able to breathe.

After about 20 seconds, Keefe released his grip “of his own volition” and the victim escaped, fleeing the house and running into police.

Keefe was sentenced to 2.5 years prison with 274 days presentence custody declared as time already served.

The sentence was ordered to be suspended after serving 274 days with an operational period of three years.

On October 29, Keefe told the court “I’ve had a bit of a bad run” starting when he was released from prison after that sentence, finding his father had cancer and was in palliative care.

“He died in my arms on my 30th birthday (four months later),” he said.

“Since then, my grandma has also passed.”

Crown prosecutor Tessa Walmsley said Keefe breached his suspended sentence when he was busted possessing 1.77 grams of marijuana when a vehicle he was travelling in on the Scenic Highway on the Capricorn Coast was intercepted on May 25, 2024 at 8.40pm.

She said he had been fined $400 in the magistrates court for that offending.

Keefe was also placed on a three year probation order as part of the district court sentence in December.

Keefe told the court in October that he was getting help through counselling and therapy after the loss of his father and grandmother.

He said he was also undergoing testing under a mental health plan so that he could be diagnosed and medicated appropriately.

Judge Jeff Clarke found Keefe in breach of the suspended sentence and ordered the operational period be extended by two months.

Originally published as Yeppoon DV offender Dayne William Reed Keefe in court for drug possession