Threats to kill: Toowoomba DV thug holds ex-partner captive with samurai sword

A Toowoomba woman endured a night of terror while her ex-partner “effectively” held her “captive” and threatened to chop her up with a samurai sword, a court heard.

Toowoomba DV offender Craig Matthew Greenbury.

A Toowoomba woman endured a night of terror while her ex-partner held her captive at sword point.

The Toowoomba District Court heard Craig Matthew Greenbury, 42, committed the domestic violence crime in breach of a protection order in March 2024.

The court heard the woman and another person were at Greenbury’s home when he started accusing the pair of stealing from him, and grabbed a samurai sword from his lounge room.

The third person left the Toowoomba residence, however the court heard Greenbury wouldn’t allow the woman to leave until the next day.

During the night, the Crown said Greenbury threatened to cut the woman’s head off, as well as her limbs, and graphically described to the woman how her blood would spurt from the wounds.

He was on a suspended jail term at the time for similar offending.

Toowoomba DV offender Craig Matthew Greenbury.

A victim impact statement was tendered to the court during Greenbury’s sentencing on Thursday, April 10.

The woman said she was plagued by sadness, anger, loss, fear, and confusion as to how someone who claimed to love her could do such a terrible thing.

“(He) treated me so badly and made me feel like my life was worth nothing,” she said.

“I’ve lost faith in humanity and faith and any hope of finding someone to share my life with.

“My self-worth has never been good, but since this incident, it feels like I completely lost myself.

“ I don’t think Craig will ever understand how his actions have made such a devastating impact on my life.

“My life will never be the same again, and it’s going to take me a lot of time recovery and help psychologically to move on from this and get back to where I was.

“I trust that I will get justice, and hopefully Craig will never treat another human being the way he treated me, and understands now that there are consequences for his actions.”

The court heard Greenbury, a long-standing drug addict, was using meth at the time of the domestic violence crime and had not worked since 2016.

About six months before incident, the court heard police raided his home and uncovered a small amount of meth and a large amount (882g) of cannabis.
The Crown said the drug was for his personal use.

The court heard his criminal history was littered with drug crimes and included domestic violence crimes.

Judge Suzanne Sheridan told Greenbury the violent threats he made while “effectively” holding the woman “captive” was clearly a terrifying experience that had a lasting impact on his ex-partner.

She acknowledged he recognized the relationship was over and had made efforts to rehabilitate himself while in custody.

Greenbury pleaded guilty to an aggravated offence of threatening violence and possessing dangerous drugs.

He was sentenced to serve 382 days in custody, which was declared as time served.

For breaching his suspended jail term, he was sentenced to a four-month jail term with immediate release on parole.

Greenbury said he plans to stay in Toowoomba to live with and support his grandmother.