Mason William Stoakes pleads guilty to series of assaults, crimes

A Sunshine Coast apprentice has been sentenced for attacks that included eye gouging, leaving a Toowoomba man with a fractured spine and throwing a wooden stake at a woman.

A Woombye apprentice has been released on parole after spending almost eight months in custody for a series of attacks and other crimes.

Mason William Stoakes spent 241 days in prison after committing a series of violent offences over an 11-month period, which included assaulting two people and throwing a wooden stake “like a spear” at an elderly woman.

The 24-year-old could have possibly been released into the community at a sentence hearing last year however, a sudden twist led to his matters being adjourned two months to Friday, after pleas of guilty to 14 offences including two of assault and one of serious assault, threatening violence and trespass.

At his previous hearing last year, police prosecutor Brendan Newman said the assaults included Stoakes attacking a man at Toowoomba after damaging a sign outside a newsagency on May 18 in 2024.

Sergeant Newman said the man tried to defend himself but the 24-year-old threw him to the ground, which caused them to fall against a glass window that caused damage.

Mason William Stoakes. Picture: Facebook

The court was told last year Stoakes then “eye gouged” the victim and left him with scratches and bruises.

Stoakes was involved in another assault on June 11 where he rained blows on his victim at Woombye after grabbing them by the shirt. The victim then fell onto their back after tripping over.

Sergeant Newman said Stoakes got on top of the victim and continued to slog him about the head.

On the same day, the court heard Stoakes grabbed a long timber stake and threw it “like a spear” towards an 82-year-old woman. It fortunately did not hit her.

CCTV footage obtained by this publication showed the frightening moment where the projectile was thrown during a barrage of vitriol from Stoakes who was clearly agitated.

Stoakes throwing a wooden stake towards an old woman.

He was arrested and refused bail in June last year. 

In an unexpected twist, the presiding acting magistrate during this sentencing in December had a conflict due to knowing one of the 24-year-old’s references, with Stoakes’ matters adjourned for two months.

He applied for bail again two days later but this was refused by magistrate Rod Madsen as it needed to be a change in circumstances. This was rejected despite a surety being offered for his bail.

“What about the victims … what did he do when he was on bail,” Mr Madsen said.

“I don’t think he’s deserving of bail.”
Stoakes spent the Christmas holidays and January in custody and appeared once again in court on Friday by video from jail.

During his final sentence, police prosecutor Val Crossley recounted one of the victim’s impact statements, which spoke of the physical and mental anguish he suffered after fracturing his spine from the attack.

Defence solicitor Chelsea Emery said the Toowoomba-born tradie was remorseful for his crimes after spending almost eight months in jail. She said he was also grappling with grief following the death of his father.

Ms Emery said the 24-year-old had a difficult time in custody and was deeply affected when his December sentence did not go ahead.

Stoakes was jailed for two years however with time served he was released on parole on Friday. He was also fined and disqualified from driving for two years.

The Woombye man must also pay $750 in compensation to one of the victims.

Originally published as Mason William Stoakes pleads guilty to series of assaults, crimes