Named: When Darling Downs criminals jailed for terrible crimes could walk free
These are the Toowoomba criminals who are due to be released from prison this year, or those who have been recently released into the community.
Police & Courts
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A number of Toowoomba criminals who committed serious enough crimes to warrant an actual term of imprisonment will soon be eligible for parole, as the state’s prisons struggle with overcrowding.
On numerous occasions in 2023, Toowoomba magistrates were told by lawyers that their clients were forced to sleep on floors because there were not enough beds.
The overcrowding issue was compounded by month-long delays with pending parole applications.
Queensland Corrective Service data shows across its facilities, there are 7546 cells and 10,394 prisoners statewide.
The state government will soon open the state’s largest prison 2km northeast of Gatton, The Lockyer Valley Correctional Centre, which will hold 1536 beds.
Monthly, hundreds of offenders are sentenced to terms of imprisonment by Toowoomba magistrates, but a majority are allowed to remain within the community on suspended orders.
Within the list of Darling Downs offenders below, who were sentenced to time behind bars, 18 will soon be eligible to apply for parole, while four were recently released back into the community.
Of those who are eligible for parole, if their applications are successful, they will be released under the supervision of Queensland Corrective Services.
Russell William Gilliis
Release date: August 4, 2023
Serial Toowoomba car thief Russell William Gilliis was released from prison after spending months behind bars following a crime spree.
In April, the 27-year-old was sentenced to 12 months’ jail after pleading guilty to 14 crimes which included evading police, dangerous operation, fleeing the scene of two crashes, stealing cars, and possessing meth.
The crime spree occurred in late 2022, after Gilliis was released on parole for similar offending.
Police prosecutor Cameron Francis said the most serious crime happened on December 3, 2022, when Gilliis dangerously drove a stolen car through Toowoomba, evading police and sideswiping a vehicle before crashing into a car, pushing it into oncoming traffic.
A Toowoomba magistrate declared 127 days spent in pre-sentence custody as time served, and ordered Gilliis be eligible for parole in August.
His licence was also disqualified for three years.
Brock Aiden Dornbusch
Parole eligibly: August 31, 2023
Oakey teenager Brock Aiden Dornbusch is eligible to apply for bail after being locked up for his involvement in stealing and dangerously evading police.
He was on parole when he committed the crimes.
In May, the 18-year-old was arrested and pleaded guilty to 42 crimes in July, which included stealing cars, evading police, dangerous operation of a vehicle, break and enter, and drug possession.
At Toowoomba Magistrates Court on July 31, 2022 he was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, and disqualified from driving for two years.
He was also sentenced to an additional six months imprisonment to run cumulatively with the pre-existing sentence he breached.
On August 31, he was eligible to apply for parole, however according to the Queensland Corrective Services prisoner database, he remains in prison.
Harley Raymond Philp
Parole release date: March 8, 2024
Dalby man Harley Raymond Philp was sentenced to three years in jail on May 10, 2023, after pleading guilty to trafficking drugs, and possessing meth and LSD.
Toowoomba District Court heard the 27-year-old diesel fitter sold various drugs at Dalby, Toowoomba, and Warwick, the primary drug being methamphetamine.
Philp spent 64 days in pre-sentence custody which was declared as time served, and his parole release date was set for March 8, 2024.
Lyneeka Ann Wilson
Parole eligibly: September 23, 2023
Convicted methamphetamine trafficker Lyneeka Wilson will be able to apply for parole on September 23 after serving two years of a nine-year jail term.
In September 2021, the 40-year-old mum of two pleaded guilty to a number of drug offences, including trafficking ice, following a police raid at her Inglewood home.
The Toowoomba District Court heard, on one occasion the drug user illegally earned more than $410,000 in the span of five months.
Damon Jye Miller
Parole release date: October 20, 2023
In May, Damon Jye Miller was sentenced to three years in jail after pleading guilty to trafficking meth and possessing meth.
Toowoomba Supreme Court heard the 26-year-old man worked for a Harlaxton drug dealer, and he was caught after police raided his “employer”.
Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald said Miller sold meth at street level, between 0.1g to 3.5g
When sentenced, the 140 days Miller spent in pre-sentence custody was declared as time served, and a parole release date was set for October 20, 2023.
Bryan Neil Crisp
Parole eligibly: July 8, 2024
In August, Bryan Neil Crisp received a four-and-a-half-year jail term after pleading guilty to supplying and possessing dangerous drugs in late 2021.
Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald said when Crisp’s home was raided, police found 16.3g of meth along with other drugs and utensils.
Crisp spent seven of the past 10 years in jail for similar offending.
Toowoomba Supreme Court heard the 35-year-old recidivist drug offender and addict was caught on CCTV camera footage at Stanthorpe Post Office in December 2021 mailing 2.687g of pure meth.
When sentenced, Crisp’s parole eligibility was set for July 8, 2024, and the 207 days he spent in custody were declared as time served.
Luke James Collins
Parole eligibly: January 10, 2025
On May 10, Luke James Collins was sentenced to a jail term after pleading guilty at the Toowoomba Supreme Court to trafficking and supplying drugs.
The court heard the 28-year-old was caught trafficking methamphetamine while on parole for the same crime.
Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald said the Glenvale man trafficked meth in January and February 2020.
After serving 20 months of his jail term, Collins will be eligible to apply for parole on January 10, 2025.
Tyrone Edwin Delaney
Parole eligibly: September 18, 2023
Toowoomba District Court heard Tyrone Edwin Delaney accompanied five men, armed with machetes, to carry out a violent home invasion and robbery at a Hursley Road home in August 2020.
Crown prosecutor Ellen Fletcher said two teenage boys at the home were subjected to violence, one of which was attacked with a machete and had a number of wounds.
She said the six intruders were disguised, and demanded money and drugs.
Delaney failed to fight his charges before the court in 2021, however, it took a jury three hours to find him guilty of burglary, armed robbery in company, and an armed robbery involving others and a wounding.
Delaney was sentenced to a six-year jail term, with a parole eligibility on September 18, 2023.
Luke Thomas Goldsworthy
Parole eligibly: November 29, 2023
In June 2022, Luke Thomas Goldsworthy was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to using violence during a break and enter while armed and in company.
Toowoomba District Court heard the 29-year-old Withcott man purposefully targeted the Helidon home to steal a number of guns, and he personally knew the victim.
The victim had been home alone at night when Goldsworthy and a co-offender cut the man’s power on November 23, 2021, before entering and beating him with a baseball bat.
The pair stole 10 firearms, however at the time of Goldsworthy’s sentence, police had only recovered two.
Robert Norman Kelly
Parole release date: October 4, 2023
In May 2022, Robert Norman Kelly was sentenced to 24-month jail term after he broke into his 75-year-old neighbour’s Wilsonton unit and beat the man.
The 33-year-old contested the charges, however after a two-day trial a jury found him guilty of burglary and seriously assaulting a person over 60.
Toowoomba District Court heard Kelly had a “significant, lengthy and serious criminal history,” which included terms of imprisonment.
The bipolar patient and former drug addict is set to be released on parole on October 4, 2023, after serving 17 months of time.
Dylan Bradley Castle
Parole release date: January 20, 2024
Regional Queensland man Dylan Bradley Castle was sentenced to a four-year jail term after pleading guilty to committing an armed robbery at a Roma service station with a friend.
Toowoomba District Court heard an iced-up Castle yelled at customers to put their hands up and not to move, before pointing a knife at workers and demanding cash and smokes.
Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald said Castle had years of criminal history mainly for public nuisance but also offences of violence.
When sentenced in July, the 303 days the 34-year-old man spent in custody was declared as time served, and his parole release date was set to activate after 16 months.
Lara Lee Duncan
Parole eligibly: March 27, 2024
On September 2, Lara Lee Duncan was sentenced to a two-and-a-half-year jail term after pleading guilty to using violence during a home invasion at Kearneys Spring.
Toowoomba District Court heard Duncan was overpowered by a homeowner at 1.30am on January 24, when he was confronted inside the man’s car.
During a scuffle, Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald said Duncan punched the man in the face while grasping car keys, cutting open the man’s face.
She said the victim detained Duncan until police arrived and arrested him, and while at the watch house, he spat in an officer’s face.
The full list of charges Duncan pleaded guilty to included burglary, stealing, unlawful entry of a vehicle with violence while pretending to be armed, and the serious assault of a police officer.
He will be eligible for parole as of March 27, 2024, after serving 14 months.
Adam Richard John Mills
Parole release date: August 12, 2024
On February 12, 2023, Adam Richard John Mills was sentenced to a four-and-a-half-year jail term after pleading guilty to seriously assaulting his mother’s partner.
Toowoomba District Court heard Mills’ sister alleged the victim assaulted her over a DVD, spurring Mills to confront the man at a Wilsonton Heights home while armed with a hammer and metal pole.
Barrister Geoff Seaholme, for the Crown, said when Mills realised the victim had a knife, he threw the hammer striking the man in the head.
He fell to the ground unconscious.
After Mills pleaded guilty to burglary in the night in company while armed and grievous bodily harm, he was told the jail term would be suspended after he served 18 months.
Once released next August, the remainder of his prison term will hang over his head for five years.
Aaron Sydney Green
Parole eligibly: May 14, 2025
After spending 107 days in pre-sentence custody, which was declared as time served, armed robber Aaron Sydney Green was sentenced to a six-year jail term.
The 28-year-old entered an Oakey service station with a knife on May 15, alongside a co-offender armed with a gun, talking off with $429.
Toowoomba District Court heard at the time, Green was on a suspended jail term for stabbing a prison yard rival at a Toowoomba service station in 2021.
When the father of three pleaded guilty to armed robbery in company late August 2023, he was told he would be eligible to apply for parole on May 14, 2025.
Christopher John Wayne Armstrong
Release date: June 20, 2023
Oakey man Christopher John Wayne Armstrong has been released from prison after pleading guilty in June, to attacking his ex-partner.
At Toowoomba Magistrates Court on June 12, Armstrong pleaded guilty to 22 crimes which included domestic violence assault causing bodily harm, drug possession, driving with meth and weed in his system, and evading police.
Magistrate Kay Philipson said the 29-year-old was on a probation order for attacking his mother when he continued to commit violent acts of domestic violence.
Armstrong was sentenced to a six-month jail term and had his license suspended for two years.
The 53 days he spent in custody, was declared as time served.
The court heard the former coal seam gas worker intended to work at a Cecil Plains sawmill upon his release.
Steven Paul McIntosh
Parole release date: October 25, 2023
Toowoomba father Steven Paul McIntosh was given a 12-month prison sentence in August 2023, after he pleaded guilty to attacking his former partner.
Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard McIntosh assaulted his wife in June, which involved at least 10 blows to the woman’s head.
McIntosh, who had a history of violence and drug addiction, also sent the woman a number of vile and threatening text messages.
His release date was set for October 25.
Kurt David Orford
Parole release date: February 2, 2024
In February, Toowoomba man Kurt David Orford was sentenced to a three-jail term for committing vile and prolonged acts of violence against his former partner.
Toowoomba District Court heard Orford beat, strangled, and locked up his ex-partner during a six-month period in 2022, with most offences taking place after the woman ended the relationship.
The court was told the vicious cycle of abuse was present in Orford’s childhood, as he himself witnessed his stepfather beat his mother.
He was jailed after pleading guilty to 10 offences including strangulation and choking, assault occasioning bodily harm, common assault, deprivation of liberty, and wilful damage.
He will be released on parole on February 2, 2024.
CHILD AND SEX OFFENCES
Arel Aviles Lara
Release date: May 2023
Prominent member of Toowoomba’s Filipino community, Arel Aviles Lara, was released from prison after spending three months behind bars for possessing and sharing “abhorrent” child abuse material.
In February, the 31-year-old aged care worker was jailed for three months after pleading guilty to using a device to distribute child abuse material (CEM) and possessing CEM.
The court heard Lara, who planned to be a nurse, had video footage of men and women engaging in a number of sexual acts, including penetration, with pre-pubescent girls and boys
The videos included children aged between four and 15 years of age.
In May 2023, Lara was released on a $2000 good behaviour bond, and 12 month probation order.
Tariq Ali
Release date: Late May, 2023
Former Toowoomba Taxi driver, Tariq Ali has been released from prison, after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a drunk customer in 2020.
Toowoomba District Court heard Ali entered the woman’s home and followed her to the bedroom, where he climbed on top of her, pinned her to the bed, and kissed her all over her face and neck.
Ali disputed the crime, however following a three-day trial in March, a jury found him guilty and sentenced him to a six-month jail term.
He was released in late May, after spending seven weeks behind bars, however an 18 months suspended jail term will hang over his head for 18 months.
Corey James Bartholomew
Parole release date: Early May, 2024
Corey James Bartholomew was sentenced to a 25-month in jail term in June 2023, after pleading guilty to grooming a child online.
The 22-year-old Toowoomba man also pleaded guilty to soliciting a child under 16 online and sharing and possessing child abuse material.
Toowoomba District Court heard Bartholomew groomed a 15-year-old girl he met on Discord, and sent her sexualised and romantic messages almost weekly.
The court also heard 69 images of child exploitation material, which included images of naked pre-pubescent girls, was found on the man’s electronic devices.
After spending eight months in jail, Bartholomew was to be released on a $1000 recognisance bond, and a two-year probation order.
Robert Andrew Scott Head
Parole eligibly: November 8, 2023
A Toowoomba jury found Western Downs man Robert Andrew Scott Head guilty of preying on three young and vulnerable teenage boys.
Following a May trial, the 28-year-old was sentenced to a 12-month jail term after he was found guilty of two charges of sexual assault, and one charge of the indecent treatment of a child under 16.
The court was told on two different occasions Head took advantage of the boys at parties – one 16-year-old who was passed out drunk, while the other was drunk and vomiting.
Head will be eligible to apply for parole on November 8, and once released, he will be on the child sex offender registry for at least five years.
Peter Anthony Turnbull
Parole eligibly: September 25, 2023
Peter Anthony Turnbull fronted court and pleaded guilty to public nuisance and stalking a Coles trolley collector, days after being convicted of a child sex offence.
A Toowoomba magistrate said a 51-year-old man, made life hell for a Northpoint Shopping Centre worker who he stalked and threatened for weeks.
The court heard months prior Turnbull was sentenced for stalking a hairdresser – he would stare at her through a window several times a day, and made sexual comments about her appearance.
He appeared in court from prison via video link on July 28, just days after pleading guilty to the indecent treatment of a child under 16.
On July 12, he was sentenced to a two-year jail term for exposing children to pornographic images as they shopped in a Toowoomba store.
When sentenced for the latest stalking incident, Turnbull was handed a four-month jail term, which will run alongside his other term of imprisonment.
He will be eligible for parole on September 25.
District Court sittings at Toowoomba, October 18
Here is a list of District Court sittings at Toowoomba on October 18
Everybody appearing at Toowoomba Magistrates Court, Friday, October 18
Here is a list of matters listed at Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday.
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