Ryan Rodney Manteufel, 34, sentenced in Toowoomba for domestic violence charges

An Oakey father has bombarded the mother of his children with ‘offensive’ messages only two weeks after he was sentenced for her assault.

Picture: Kevin Farmer

An Oakey man who was sentenced for physically attacking the mother of his children has sent her a torrent of abusive messages mere weeks after his last court date.

Ryan Rodney Manteufel, 34, pleaded guilty to contravening a domestic violence order and using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence before a Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday after sending a stream of abusive messages to the mother of his three sons.

Manteufel has been before the court on several domestic violence charges dating back to 2018, all relating to the same woman.

He was sentenced in April of this year for punching the woman in the face and contravening a domestic violence order and given a six month jail term, suspended for 12 months.

Two weeks later, he again contravened a domestic violence order, calling 25 times, leaving aggressive messages and ignoring an order to remain 100 metres from the aggrieved.

“He was put on notice not to contact and he has not done that,” police prosecutor Rohan Brewster-Webb said.

“(In May) he sent abusive texts, he’s then gone to her home.

“Subsequently to that, in July, he had a series of contact with the aggrieved via text, calls and photos.

“Some were abusive, some were general (in nature) and some were effectively pleading for the relationship.”

Manteufel was subject to two suspended sentences at the time of committing these offences.

Solicitor Matthew McCarthy from Creevey Horrell Lawyers said his client was working to better himself.

“He did attempt to make steps towards amicably separating but obviously got too overwhelmed,” Mr McCarthy said.

“(The messages) were obviously offensive and undesirable.

“There is wording to the effect of ‘let’s go to war’, there are not necessarily threats to the complainant’s life.”

Magistrate Lisa O’Neill argued, while no obvious threats were made, it was unclear the true nature of the messages.

“This behaviour is very nuanced, unless you’re the person in the relationship it’s hard to know what it actually means,” Ms O’Neill said.

“It’s the persistence in this, it’s quite manipulative behaviour.

“It’s quite entrenched.

Ms O’Neill deliberated for about half an hour before ultimately ruling a period of probation was appropriate.

“Domestic violence is something that the community is very distressed about,” she said.

“It seems really obvious to me that there are two things that need to be addressed, one relates to alcohol … and then you’ve got an issue related to attitudes to interpersonal relationships and gender.

Manteufel was sentenced to 15 months probation for both contravention charges and given a six month sentence for the carriage service offence, with immediate release.

Ms O’Neill partially activated his suspended sentence with 73 days declared as time served and extended the sentence for three months.

Manteufel was also ordered to engage in specialised psychological counselling and placed on a $1000 good behaviour bond for 12 months.

“Thank you, your honour, I’ll do you proud,” Manteufel said.

“For the sake of your children I hope that’s right,” she replied.