Baker Daryl Kirkham pleads guilty to stalking former partner after break up

After a Sunshine Coast pastry chef was dumped he began an “extreme” stalking campaign which involved chasing his former partner with scissors, breaking into his house and incessant messages.

Daryl John Kirkham faced the Maroochydore District Court on Monday while in custody. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A Nambour pastry chef who was in the thralls of a Xanax addiction has been jailed for his “intense” stalking of his former boyfriend, at one point chasing the victim out of his home with scissors.

Maroochydore District Court heard that Daryl John Kirkham said it was “just the beginning” for his victim during a campaign of harassment where he threatened to kill him, broke into his home and assaulted him.

The 36-year-old, who pleaded guilty to stalking with violence in a domestic relationship, burglary and three traffic offences on Monday, spent 339 days on remand for the fevered offending which took place from March 27 to April 9, 2023.

Crown prosecutor Alex Stark stated Kirkham “terrorised” the victim through hundreds of abusive messages and threats after he was dumped due to his “verbal abuse”.

Daryl John Kirkham is a qualified baker and pastry chef. Picture: Facebook

The court heard Kirkham went to the victim’s home on March 28 and sent several threatening messages before he left and returned about 4.30pm.

Judge Bernard Porter KC said the 36-year-old broke into his victim’s home and chased him through the street with a pair of scissors.

The court was told the victim had his phone destroyed and was punched by Kirkham, who also scared off a neighbour who tried to intervene.

“This is just the beginning, you will be dead when I’m ready to kill you,” Kirkham said, according to Judge Porter.

Kirkham left the scene but returned again and did burnouts in the victim's yard before he left once more.

He returned that night and damaged several things at his home, but left the scene when police arrived.

Kirkham spent 339 days in custody after his arrest. Picture: Patrick Woods

Mr Stark said police found Kirkham’s car nearby where they uncovered a baseball bat and knife inside.

He was later apprehended by police and has been in custody since his “extreme” and “intense” conduct.

In the victim impact statement, the complainant said “never felt so useless and terrified” from the offending.

“I just want to live in a world where I don’t fear for my life,” his statement said.

Defence barrister Lily Brisick said Kirkham, who came from a “prejudicial” background, completed rehabilitation courses while in jail and hoped to continue them when released.

Ms Brisick said the Nambour man also suffered trauma from a home invasion where he woke up duct taped to the floor while people “wielding shotguns” were in his home.

The defence barrister said Kirkham was using Xanax heavily at the time and grieving the death of one of his boyfriends.

She told the court Kirkham was a qualified baker and pastry chef and hoped to open his own bakery after his sentence.

Kirkham was jailed for four and a half years, with his parole eligibility date set for September 18.

Originally published as Baker Daryl Kirkham pleads guilty to stalking former partner after break up