Elderly Harlaxton woman pleads guilty in Toowoomba Magistrates Court to stalking, harassing and abuse

An elderly woman has pleaded guilty in court after a months-long tirade on a neighbourhood family, which included racial taunts and threats to the children’s safety.

A Toowoomba woman has been sentenced for stalking, harassing and abuse of her neighbours.

A Toowoomba mum has been granted a restraining order from her elderly neighbour after she was stalked, and her children threatened, by the woman for months.

The 71-year-old Harlaxton woman pleaded guilty to unlawful stalking, intimidation, harassing or abuse of her former neighbour and one breach of bail after continually taunting the woman and her children from April 2023 to February of this year.

Police prosecutor Julia Wheaton told the court the woman, on multiple occasions, would drive past her neighbour’s house while recording on her phone, at times parking up outside the home and peering inside.

Ms Wheaton said the victim advised police the issues were ongoing and the woman had previously made threats to her children, including threatening to run them over with her car.

“She’s referred to the victim’s female children as ‘loud, proud, gay, and black’ and also called the victim ‘black trash’,” Ms Wheaton said.

After her arrest, the woman was told to desist all contact with the victim; however, while packing to move from the neighbourhood, the victim captured the woman on camera yelling “f--k you”, “you’re moving”, “yahoo!” and taking pictures of the home.

“She continued to say (to police) that she was just playing and recording her dog on her phone,” Ms Wheaton said of the accused.

“Attending police have then recognised a photo of the victim’s home (on the woman’s phone), there were no photographs of the dog or recording of the dog.”

Ms Wheaton asked the magistrate to consider a restraining order on behalf of the victim.

Solicitor Phil Stainton, appearing as duty lawyer, said it was a case of a neighbourhood feud gone wrong.

“What started out as a sort of neighbourhood dispute has become more significant over a period of time,” Mr Stainton said.

“There were periods of time where both parties were regularly filming each other and comments were made.”

Acting magistrate Michelle Dooley warned the woman her behaviour would not be tolerated.

“These are significant charges and the most disappointing part of this, is that after you were charged and placed on bail you continued to offend, that’s of great concern,” she said.

“I’m sure you wouldn’t want your children to be subject to behaviour of this nature.”

The woman was placed on a $1500 good behaviour bond for 12 months and served a restraining order which prohibited contact with the victim and her family.