Ex-Toowoomba council worker Darren McColl pleads guilty to driving at wife and neighbours

A former council staffer, sacked for allegations of inappropriate conduct, attempted to run down his wife and two others in a violent argument.

Toowoomba man Darren Brett McColl, 55, pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle (domestic violence), wilful damage and common assault (domestic violence) before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday. Picture: NewsCorp Australia

An ex-Toowoomba council employee tried to run down his wife and two others with his car after a violent argument on a suburban street, a court has been told.

Toowoomba man Darren Brett McColl, 55, pleaded guilty before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle (domestic violence), wilful damage and common assault (domestic violence) after drunkenly trying to run over three people on a suburban street.

The court was told that while arguing with his wife in October 2024, an intoxicated McColl punched the woman twice in the face and once to the ribs, before fleeing the home in his car.

On his way out, McColl drove directly into his neighbour’s garage door, causing extensive damage to the property.

Toowoomba man Darren Brett McColl, 55, pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle (domestic violence), wilful damage and common assault (domestic violence) before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday. Picture: NewsCorp Australia

The sound of the crash woke neighbours to the chaos, bringing them onto the streets, with McColl deciding to turn the car around.

“Neighbours were talking with the aggrieved, when (McColl) has driven back into the street and, at that time, he has driven directly at the aggrieved, knocking her to the ground,” police prosecutor Rowan Brewster-Webb said.

“The defendant has then reversed and driven towards another neighbour who had to take evasive action in order to avoid being hit.

“A further neighbour has run across the street in order to assist and the defendant has driven at them, causing them to jump into a hedge.”

McColl’s wife was taken to hospital with bruises and abrasion but luckily sustained no further injuries from being hit by the car.

The incident comes after McColl was unceremoniously sacked by Toowoomba Regional Council in May of 2024 after almost 30 years of service.

An internal investigation found 14 substantiated allegations against McColl, with two fellow staffers claiming to have resigned because of his “conduct at work”.

McColl applied to have his employment restored with the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission in January of this year, arguing allegations of breaching the code of conduct were “false” and there was no attempt by council to “introduce a plan for (his) employment”.

His request was refused.

McColl had his employment with Toowoomba Regional Council terminated after an internal investigation. Photo: File.

Defence barrister Justin Thomas said McColl was struggling to come to terms with some parts of his life at the time of the incident.

“He is keen to put this matter behind him and some of the difficulty he experienced in recent times behind him with the view of establishing some stability,” Mr Thomas said.

“The circumstances of his relationship breakdown and the circumstances that gave rise to the lead up of this offending have really thrown things off course for Mr McColl.

“There has been ongoing difficulty managing his own experiences of the relationship breakdown.”

Mr Thomas said McColl would benefit from supervision in the community, rather than time in custody, in order to appropriately address his mental health struggles.

“He has taken some steps to address (his issues),” Mr Thomas said.

“He hasn’t engaged in any formal counselling … he is a man, while of mature years, who would be assisted, in my submission, by being directed to and engaging in some form of therapeutic invention.”

Magistrate Michelle Dooley condemned McColl for his violent and abusive manner.

“This is domestic violence at a very high level,” she said.

“It’s behaviour that the community is not going to accept.

“You cannot behave in this manner, we cannot have mayhem like this going on in the suburban streets.”

McColl was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment with immediate parole.

He was disqualified from driving or holding a licence for 12 months and ordered to pay $1302.10 in restitution.