20+ NAMES: Southern Downs mums and dads to face court in 2023
From drug offences and fraud to assaults and domestic violence, and even attacking cops, meet the Southern Downs mums and dads who faced courts for their crimes in 2023. FULL LIST.
Warwick
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From drug offences to domestic violence, assault and fraud and even horse theft, meet the Southern Downs parents who faced courts for their crimes in the past 12 months.
See more than 20 Southern Downs mums and dads acting badly in the past 12 months who ended up in court.
MUMS
CONVICTIONS RECORDED
REBECCA LOUISE GREEN
A Warwick mum with a “concerning” history of violence, including towards police, faced court over a standoff with officers.
Rebecca Louise Green pleaded guilty to one charge of obstructing a police officer when she appeared in Warwick Magistrates Court on Monday, October 17.
The altercation occurred on the evening of October 3, at an address in Warwick when police were at the address to investigate an unrelated matter.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve de Lissa told the court Green “refused arrest” on multiple occasions, by “preventing police to perform their duty”.
Green refused to move towards the patrol car, with an officer forced to handcuff the 31-year-old. She then refused to enter the police vehicle.
The court was told that once inside the vehicle, Green wriggled her body to prevent officers from securing the seatbelt and slammed her shoulder against the door to try and prevent it from being closed.
Once at the watch-house, the mother-of-one told officers “she wouldn’t get out” and refused to exit the vehicle.
Magistrate Virginia Sturgess revealed the woman had a “very serious history of violence”, including where the woman received an 18 month imprisonment order for assault occasioning bodily harm in 2022, as well as lesser sentences for obstructing and assaulting police, as well assaulting a watch-house officer.
“You have a longstanding and ongoing problem that needs to be addressed … and a lengthy and concerning history of violence, but I am impressed with your compliance with parole and note your early plea.”
Green was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, suspended for eight months. Convictions were recorded
KRISTIE JADE BATSON
A court was told a mother of four threatened another woman with a barstool before arming herself with a knife, telling the victim “I’ll stab you”, with comments about the assailant’s ex-partner triggering the disturbing altercation.
Warwick woman Kristie Jade Batson, pleaded guilty in July in Warwick Magistrates Court to a string of charges ranging from assault occasioning bodily harm, public nuisance, stealing and two drug driving charges.
She also pleaded guilty to a failure to appear charge, breach of bail charge as well as two counts of contravening a police direction.
The magistrate described the most “concerning” offending as the assault occasioning bodily harm and public nuisance charges, that related to an incident in Dalby at the Australian Hotel in November 2022.
The 33-year-old got into an altercation with another patron after the punter approached Batson and made a comment regarding an ex-partner, police prosecutor Sergeant Steve de Lissa said.
“They had a short conversation before walking away, before (Batson) turned around and punched the victim on her left cheek, then pushing her and pulling her on the ground by her hair,” Sergeant de Lissa said.
Batson grabbed a barstool and began holding it to the woman in a “threatening manner” and began to swing it.
The court was told Batson yelled “you better watch your back, I’ll come after you and your mum.”
The mum-of-four then grabbed a steak knife from a nearby table, and wielded it saying “I’ll stab you right now” before putting it down.
The woman was also busted driving with drugs in her system twice, once occurring on October 22, 2022, and the other days later on October 24, 2022 in Dalby.
Batson was sentenced to a two year probation order and convictions were recorded.
For the two charges of failing to comply with police direction, she was convicted but not further punished, with convictions recorded.
Batson was also suspended from driving for 18 months.
NO CONVICTIONS RECORDED
ROBYN MAREE CONRAN
Conran pleaded guilty to one charge each of possessing and supplying dangerous drugs, and one charge of possessing drug utensils that had been used in May of this year.
The 44-year-old’s drug operation was revealed after a search warrant was activated on April 25, which revealed the offending had been occurring from January 1, 2023.
The police raid revealed 15g of cannabis hidden in the kitchen as well as digital scales. Police examined mobile phone messages, which indicated the mother of 11 had also been selling cannabis.
Conran told police the operation had been going since the start of the year and she had been selling to people all around Warwick.
Defence lawyer Clare Hine told the court 10 of 11 children still live at home with her and had begun smoking cannabis to deal with insomnia.
“She supplied cannabis to family and friends, as well as people she knew, and it was purely to fund her own use of cannabis,” Ms Hine said.
“You need to take steps to address what’s at the bottom of this, why are you using cannabis and why are you branching out to supplying it to support your habit,” magistrate Virginia Sturgess said.
Conran was sentenced to a 12 month probation order.
No convictions were recorded.
MAREE ELIZABETH CHANDLER
On May 12, 2023, Chandler was stopped by police and provided a roadside saliva test, coming back with a positive reading for methamphetamine, to which the woman told police she had “smoked three or four bongs the previous day”.
Police conducted a search of Chandler which revealed 0.2g of a dangerous drug and a mobile phone, which officers believed was “used to supply persons with dangerous drugs since April 12”.
After being busted, the 45-year-old failed to attend the police station to give her identifying particulars as required by police.
One month later on June 17, the mother-of-six was pulled over by officers from Warwick CIB on East St for a traffic stop.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Andrew Grafton told the court the officers intercepted the sedan, before conducting a search of the vehicle.
During the search, police located a pipe, as well as bongs located in a bag in the passenger seat.
Maree Elizabeth Chandler pleaded guilty in Warwick Magistrates Court to five charges, including supplying and possessing drugs, possessing drug utensils, driving under the influence of drugs (provisional licence) and contravening directions given by a police officer, in July.
Chandler was released under supervision for a 15 month probation order, and suspended from driving for three months.
No conviction was recorded.
KARRA ELAINE FACKENDER
A Warwick mum found herself in front of a magistrate after a driveway argument escalated into a tirade involving both family members and the police.
Karra Elaine Fackender pleaded guilty in Warwick Magistrates Court in February to one count of causing a public nuisance.
The court was told the 23-year-old was engaged in an argument on December 30, 2022, which quickly escalated.
Defence lawyer Clare Hine said Fackender was the primary carer of two children, who see their father on the weekend, and on the weekend in question, she had found the children were with their aunt instead.
“The background is she had gone down to collect the children and the aunt has said ‘no, I’m not giving you the children, I’m holding on to them’,” Ms Hine said.
Fackender then told the woman to tell the father of the children to drop them back as agreed and she left the property in an attempt for a “cool down period”.
Later that day, Fackender returned to the woman’s address with her mother and sister, while the father of the children and a group of friends had also turned up, allegedly attacking and smashing Fackender’s car with a bat.
“She was very angry she wanted her children back, there was no reason for the aunt to keep hold of the children,” Ms Hine said.
The police then attended the address and Fackender began yelling from the driveway at both police and the aunt.
The court was told Fackender yelled “you’re a f---ing sick c--t” to a woman talking to police and “you f---ing killed my father you are useless” towards a cop on the scene.
Fackender was warned by officers and walked away before turning and spitting at the police before being arrested.
Magistrate Virginia Sturgess described the conduct as “unacceptable.”
Fackender was sentenced to a three month good behaviour bond.
No convictions were recorded.
SOUTHERN DOWNS DADS
CONVICTIONS RECORDED
JACK RYAN STRANEY
One man’s aggressive and ‘random’ attack landed him in front of the magistrate, who promised she would not be as forgiving for his next appearance.
Jack Ryan Straney pleaded guilty to one charge of wilful damage on 24 July in Warwick Magistrates Court.
The court was told on March 17, Straney embarked on a rampage in a South Brisbane street where he damaged a vehicle parked on the road.
Defence lawyer Phillip Crook told the magistrate the father-of-three was at the time serving time of imprisonment on parole, relating to a prior incident in which Straney “punched a number of cars in the street”.
The fitter and turner’s target of his rage was a landscape business’ car, which so happened to be parked on the street he was walking down.
The 27-year-old punched the door of the vehicle, causing a dent, with Straney leaving his blood on the side of the car, which was identified later by his DNA.
“Hopefully, the threat of going to prison – which will happen if you don’t comply with your parole – will motivate you to do something about your issues.”
Straney was convicted and not further punished for the wilful damage charge, and ordered to pay restitution of $761 to the owner of the car.
BRAD RAYMOND BENNETT
Allora dad Bennett pleaded guilty in Warwick Magistrates Court on August 23 to assault occasioning bodily harm, possessing used drug utensils, as well as possessing a category M weapon.
In the early hours of March 5, at Allora, the court was told Bennett received word that a woman had been approached by an 18-year-old male and two juveniles.
Defence lawyer Phillip Crook said the woman was “scared”, leading Bennett to run out of his house and confront the trio.
The two juveniles got away, while Bennett caught up to the 18-year-old, grabbing him and striking him in the jaw, to which he was “remorseful.”
Bennett “realised after he hit him, that he was only around 18, so didn’t proceed anymore” and didn’t realise the man had suffered a concussion which led to the victim’s hospitalisation.
Days later on March 7, police searched Bennett’s home and found a restricted flick knife, to which Bennett said he had been a “collector of knives since a child.”
For the assault charge Bennett was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, suspended for nine months. For the two possession charges, he received a $400 fine with the items forfeited. Convictions were recorded.
DARLING DOWNS DAD
A Darling Downs dad who engaged in an hour-long standoff with police after abducting children from custody has faced court in August 2023.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to one charge of removing a child from custody or guardianship and one charge of obstructing a police officer on Monday in Warwick Magistrates Court.
The man, who “isn’t working but trying to get his kids back,” got word from one of the children that he was being bullied at school, causing him to pick up the child from a Toowoomba school.
The man went to police at Toowoomba, as well as the branch of the Child Protective Services, to which he claimed the latter “refused to speak to him”.
The 40-year-old then went and collected a second child, before taking the two kids to an address, in order to “conceal the location” of the children.
The man was said to be “belligerent and uncooperative” with officers, telling his co-offender “do not help police,” who quickly caught on to his plan.
The man refused to comment on the welfare of the children to the police, and resulted
d in “over an hour long standoff” at the address.
The man was slapped with a $1000 fine. Convictions were recorded.
JEREMY THOMAS COLE
Cole had “limited recollection” of the offending “due to alcohol” as he was drinking since mid afternoon, his lawyer Bonnie O’Brien told Warwick Magistrates Court.
The 33-year-old, after an afternoon and night of drinking, attended the Malt House nightclub on August 27, the court was told.
At around 2.20am, the partner of the meatworks cleaner had been involved in an altercation with security due to her level of intoxication at the venue.
Cole followed his partner out of the venue onto the street, as his partner “became quite unwell due to intoxication, she was vomiting repeatedly,” Ms O’Brien said.
Police attended the venue after management called authorities to deal with the ordeal.
While police were interacting with the father-of-three’s partner he became aggressive, and pushed a police officer multiple times.
Cole snapped at the officer, who was just doing his job, telling the policeman “take that badge off and I’ll fight you”.
Cole pleaded guilty to one charge of assaulting a police officer at a licenced venue on December 4 in Warwick Magistrates Court.
“You were too intoxicated to make sensible decisions, but fighting a police officer would never had helped the situation with (your partner),” the magistrate told the man.
Cole was fined $800 with convictions recorded.
JOHN POLITIS
An argument over money between a Warwick father of 11 and a co-worker ended in a vicious attack in a popular park that was all caught on CCTV.
John Politis appeared in Warwick Magistrates Court in November 2022, where he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm while in company, possessing cannabis and drug utensils.
The 50-year-old and a second person brutally assaulted a co-worker of Politis in Leslie Park on May 22.
The court was told Politis yelled in the face of the man asking the whereabouts of some money, before punching the man in the face.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve de Lissa told the court Politis kicked the man in the head while he was on the ground, which left the man hospitalised with facial and body injuries.
CCTV footage picked up Politis and the other man approaching the victim, restraining him before viciously beating him.
“Your actions were more than excessive, they were unjustified,” Ms Sturgess said.
Politics was sentenced to a total of 15 months imprisonment, but was immediately released on parole. He was also fined $650 for breaching the earlier probation order relating to the 2021 matter.
CLINTON JAMES BORMOLINI
A Queensland man’s drug operation was exposed by police after a search of the man’s phone for an unrelated matter.
Clinton James Bormolini faced a lengthy string of charges, pleading guilty on September 20 to six charges of supplying drugs and one of possessing used drug utensils.
The court was told the father, who now works as a self-employed plasterer at Redcliffe, was being investigated for an unrelated matter and when police seized and examined the man’s phone, a sporadic drug supply operation was uncovered, lasting from April 5 to April 20.
On April 11, the man was arrested for unrelated offences, which exposed the messages Bormolini was sending to organise deals with customers.
Bormolini had supplied cannabis to the customers on six occasions, which defence lawyer Nathan Bouchier said was “to support his own drug habit”.
Mr Bouchier said the man had been taking “significant steps” in rehabilitation, including completing the Lives Lived Well program and was “motivated to address his drug issue.”
Magistrate Virginia Sturgess revealed the man had a “sporadic drug history” with criminal history relating to domestic violence.
Bormolini was sentenced to a nine month probation order.
Convictions were recorded.
FARRON ROY WINKWORTH
Farron Roy Winkworth faced Warwick District Court in May facing a raft of charges relating to a drug operation that Winkworth orchestrated saw him receive more than half a kilogram of cannabis a week from metropolitan suppliers, as well as actively seek out customers.
The court was told during the sentence that Winkworth was motivated “purely by profit” and not to feed a drug habit of his own.
Winkworth pleaded guilty to nine drug offences, including trafficking dangerous drugs, one count of possessing a dangerous drug, seven charges of supplying dangerous drugs, two of possessing drug property.
Additionally, there were other charges which Winkworth further pleaded guilty to, including possessing property used in connection to a drug offence, being three phones used to arrange deals.
Furthermore, a final three summary charges mentioned – two charges of possession $13,320 suspected of being proceeds of crime, as well as possessing antidepressants without a script.
The court was told the now 40-year-old’s business was “booming” and that he supplied drugs on “at least 130 occasions.”
By March 2022, Winkworth was raking in tens of thousands of dollars, and had reached out to supply methamphetamine to clients.
Legal officer acting on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions Sarah Hibbert told the court the operation went from December 2021 to April 2022, with Winkworth selling quantities at both street level and at wholesale.
Judge Dennis Lynch KC said Winkworth “might count himself a bit lucky to not be going back to jail.”
“You were not a drug user during the period, which aggravates the seriousness of it, clearly there was a commercial purpose towards this which is a significant aggravating feature,” Judge Lynch said.
He was sentenced to a jail term of two years, six months and was released immediately on parole.
NO CONVICTIONS RECORDED
TRISTAN ROBERT TAYLOR-WOOD
Warwick Magistrates Court was told a police search of Tristan Robert Taylor-Woods’ home on January 13 unveiled weapons in his home, with officers finding a telescopic baton and handcuffs in his bedside table.
Police also found two registered firearms which were stored away as is required by law in a gun safe, however the safe was in a cupboard, which did not comply with regulations.
The court was told police also found ammunition which was also not stored correctly in another compartment of the bedside table by the 33-year-old father of three.
The gun safe was not bolted down correctly as required by law, and when police questioned Taylor-Woods about it he told them “he was going to move it down to the shed when he got the chance”. It was revealed the gun safe had been in the cupboard for three years.
On May 15 Taylor-Woods pleaded guilty to four charges including failure to store ammunition, possessing restricted items, unlawful possession of a weapon (category M) and possessing a restricted item.
Taylor-Woods was fined $600 and the items were forfeited.
No conviction was recorded.
WALTER GEORGE FULLER
A Warwick man fronted court in May after he stole four horses from a Southern Downs property, and then sold the horses to an abattoir.
Walter George Fuller, 54, stole the horses from the property over the course of a month in June 2022, Warwick Magistrates Court heard.
On July 19, Fuller sold the stolen horses for $1250 to an abattoir at Caboolture.
CCTV footage nabbed another person unloading four horses off the back of a truck, as well as a vendor registration document found by police. Fuller had listed himself as the owner of the four horses.
Fuller pleaded guilty to four counts of stealing animals that is stock and one count of fraud.
Fuller was fined $1250 and no convictions were recorded.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENDERS
NO CONVICTIONS RECORDED
GOONDIWINDI DAD
The man – who cannot be named for legal reasons – pleaded guilty to contravening a domestic violence order by visiting his children in a bizarre late-night road trip while they were asleep in February.
The Warwick-based 23-year-old made the trip on February 4 to Goondiwindi to “see his children with the consent of the mother”, Warwick Magistrates Court was told in February 2023.
Magistrate Virginia Sturgess told the man that 11.30pm, when the children were asleep, was “not an appropriate time to visit.”
The court was told the man and a “carload” of people arrived at the woman’s address, and she was in her bedroom as the man yelled out from outside that “he wanted to talk with the kids.”
Not wanting any drama, the court was told the woman allowed the man inside but requested the carload of people to leave.
“Whether or not you had a plan to visit the children, that is not an appropriate time to visit them, and it’s not the way to go about it,” Ms Sturgess said.
The man was met with a $600 fine with no convictions recorded.
VENOMOUS’ DAD
A Warwick man – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – faced Warwick Magistrates Court in November, pleading guilty to contravening a domestic violence order that was in place from July 2022.
The breach occurred on January 17, 2023 following the end of a history described as “long, complicated and traumatic on both sides” by defence lawyer Stafford Mortensen.
Mr Mortensen said as a family lawyer the situation with the man was “among the more venomous” that he had seen.
An agreement within the domestic violence order allowed the man to video call his children on certain days, and while on a call with his children the man breached the order by snapping.
“Ogre c--t is here,” the man said after the aggrieved stepped slightly in the frame of the video call.
“You clearly exposed the children to domestic violence,” magistrate Virginia Sturgess said.
“I don’t know why you felt it necessary to make a gratuitous, offensive remark, just because (the aggrieved) moved into frame of the video.”
The man was fined $800 and no convictions were recorded.
‘WHO’S YOUR NEW BOYFRIEND’
A Warwick father was slammed by a magistrate after details of his “creepy” domestic violence breaches came to light.
The father of one – who cannot be named for legal reasons – faced Warwick Magistrates Court on November 6, where he pleaded guilty to 15 contraventions of a domestic violence order over a period lasting from August 17 to September 12, 2023.
The court was told the 40-year-old man was in a relationship with a woman, with the couple sharing a child together, before a “traumatic” tragedy split the pair up.
The man quickly began “pushing the boundaries” of the domestic violence order against him after it was served to him on August 15 of this year, with the court told he breached it almost immediately on August 17.
The man texted the woman, with the woman bluntly replying not to contact her unless it was a certain stipulation regarding the child.
On August 24, the man continued messaging the woman, asking her if she “had random people at her house” and sending selfies.
On September 9, the man began talking about the woman’s personal life saying: “Who’s your new boyfriend? You had some bloke take you on a horse.”
Magistrate Virginia Sturgess quickly called the man’s actions as “creepy, intrusive and emotionally manipulative behaviour.”
“You could not stick to the rules – you have no insight, and no respect and that troubles me because you have a long time left on that (domestic violence) order.”
The man was sentenced to a 12 month probation order, and no conviction was recorded.
WARWICK MUM
A Warwick mum’s desire to get disputed dolls back after almost a decade landed her in front of the magistrate.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to one charge of contravening a domestic violence order on Monday, September 18.
The court was told the woman in her 50s breached the no contact rule of an order set up against the woman by her ex-husband, with the pair being separated for nine years following 20 years of marriage.
From the period of June 27 to July 1 of 2023, the mother sent three text messages to the man.
The first text regarded the woman seeking the return of a figurine, demanding the “return of the Willow Tree figurines”.
The mum fired back days later after being met with no reply, messaging the man to discuss child support, despite the fact the oldest child the pair had together was a legal adult. She messaged the man “sorry, delete that” one day later.
Magistrate Virginia Sturgess said the woman’s decision to breach the order and contact the man was “very stupid”.
“You’ve given evidence (for the man) to take to police, and charge you with breaking the order,” Ms Sturgess said.
“It doesn’t matter if (the man) hadn’t returned any property to you – it has been nine years – it doesn’t matter anymore. In relation to inquiring about the child support, there is no excuse.”
“There is no one to blame but yourself, by doing stupid things you end up in court.”
The woman was slapped with a $750 fine.
No convictions were recorded.
CONVICTIONS RECORDED - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENCES
RICKY WILLIAM WESTON
A Stanthorpe dad was jailed after he attempted to set a police vehicle and residence on fire.
Ricky William Weston arrived in Warwick District Court on Friday, November 17 in handcuffs and prison greens, where he pleaded guilty to endangering property by fire (domestic violence offence) contravention of a DVO, and endangering property by fire.
The 41-year-old had a lengthy five-page criminal history with offences dating back two decades, Crown prosecutor Sam Rigby said.
The court was told the offending occurred while the man was on parole on April 18 at a home at Stanthorpe.
“He was asked to leave but quickly became paranoid and consumed more alcohol, he was told to leave again before he was locked inside a room,” Mr Rigby said.
The court was told Weston attempted to smash through the interior door with a pickaxe, before burning a piece of paper to set the door alight. The fire was put out with the help of neighbours, but the door was severely burnt.
The matter was quickly reported, with local police taking the man into custody.
It wasn’t much later when Weston attempted to set the police vehicle on fire, lighting up the seat – particularly the arm rest – causing more than $1000 damage to the vehicle.
Weston was sentenced to one year and nine months in jail for lighting the fire in the family home, and 12 months for the police vehicle fire, to be served concurrently.
For the contravention charge, Weston was convicted but not further punished.
Judge Allen declared 213 days in custody as time served and set a parole eligibility date of November 17, 2023.
Convictions were recorded.
WARWICK MAN
The magistrate was left in disbelief after a man turned a convenient service into a method to orchestrate harassment.
The offending took place in March this year, with a Warwick man – who cannot be named for legal reasons - using a mobile cash transfer service as a method of contacting a woman who had a protection order against him.
In a “sneaky way”, the 26-year-old dad breached his order by transferring a small sum of money to her account, along with a message.
The court was told the messages were sent alongside a ‘fast transfer’ of $3.11 at around 1am, and said “do you still love me” and “has anyone proposed to you yet?”
Minutes later, the man sent another transaction asking if the woman “still loved him”.
The father-of-two was quick to cease the activity as he “pulled his head in,” defence lawyer Hamish Chapman told the court.
The woman however, was not happy with the unwanted contact and quickly reported the matter to police.
“She clearly did not want you to contact her, because she made a complaint to the police,” magistrate Virginia Sturgess told the man.
The man pleaded guilty in Warwick Magistrates Court on September 11 to one charge of aggravated breaching of a protection order.
“The money transfer is just an exchange to engage in contact with the woman,” the magistrate said.
For both matters, the man was sentenced to a total of three months imprisonment, released immediately on parole.
Convictions were recorded.
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