Toowoomba father who threatened to burn family alive to be released from custody after serving 100 days

A court has been told a young child set traps before bed every night in fear their father would return to the family he threatened to burn alive.

Photo: QPS.

A young Toowoomba family was left living in fear after their father threatened to burn them alive in an “extremely serious” example of domestic violence and coercive control.

The 43-year-old man pleaded guilty to threatening violence among other charges before Toowoomba Magistrates Court last week after inflicting a malicious attack on his toddler, young child and estranged partner.

The court was told the man and his then-partner were in the midst of a separation when he became aggravated.

“He was playing with his son, it seems, kicking a ball around; the aggrieved asked him not to in case things are broken,” police prosecutor Sergeant Julia Wheaton said.

She said the man then encouraged his young children to ignore their mother, calling her a “c--t” and “b---h”.

“Things only get more serious from that point,” Sergeant Wheaton added.

He continued to damage property, throwing a television and smashing car windows with a sledgehammer – all witnessed by the two young children.

The mother, another woman and the children then fled, in fear, to a caravan, at which point the heavily intoxicated man demanded his partner hand over their car keys.

“He picks up a can of fuel and he threatens to light the caravan with his children and two women inside,” Sergeant Wheaton said.

“He goes into the caravan and acts as though he is going to tip the fuel out, at which point, in fear, the aggrieved party threw the keys at him.”

The man then threatened his own life, driving into a tree, before again threatening to burn down the caravan with his family inside as his children screamed.

“He’s screaming things like ‘say goodbye to my children’,” Sergeant Wheaton said.

“Ultimately he goes to a tent, he douses the tent in fuel and lays inside of that and threatens to set fire to himself.”

The court was told the family suffered severely following the attack.

“There was a period of time after this incident where (the eldest child) struggled to sleep, they set traps outside due to their fear,” Sergeant Wheaton said.

“Similarly the younger child has night terrors that continue.

“This is an extremely serious example of domestic violence offences and, in my view, exhibits a significant and serious level of coercive control.

“While it wasn’t actual physical violence … the psychological and emotional distress caused by this incident should not be understated.”

Defence solicitor Nathan Bouchier of Bouchier Khan Lawyers said the man struggled with alcohol addiction, compounded by two work injuries, and was highly intoxicated at the time of the attack.

“There were arguments in relation to separation, that seems to have continued on the (day of the offence).

“He instructed he was essentially watching TV, stewing and consumed more alcohol.”

Mr Bouchier said the man suffered minor injuries from the incident and, in the time since the attack, reflected on his actions.

“He is very remorseful for his conduct, he’s had time in custody where he has had to consider his actions and face up to what he has done,” he said.

“He’s willing to undergo treatment, he’s applied to Alcoholic Anonymous.”

Magistrate Michelle Dooley condemned the man’s crimes as “appalling” but stressed a need for rehabilitation support.

“The great concern that I have is that this offending may have gone and ended up with an absolutely tragic result,” she said.

“You were using coercive violence at its worst to intimidate, to belittle.

“This type of offending will not be tolerated, it can’t be tolerated.

“I’m hopeful that, when you are put on to parole, you will engage with assistance to address domestic violence issues and alcohol issues so that you can evaluate what you have done.”

The man was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment with 73 days declared time served.

He will be out in the community, on parole conditions, on November 26.