Toowoomba man who grabbed mum by throat accused her of poisoning him with dog semen

A 30-year-old Queensland man’s vile accusation during an “extremely serious” domestic violence attack can be revealed along with his punishment.

A 30-year-old man who grabbed his mother by the throat and accused her of poisoning him with dog semen has been jailed for four months.

With his mother watching on from the public gallery of Toowoomba Magistrates Court, the 30-year-old, who is not named so as to protect the identity of his mother, appeared via video link from the prison to plead guilty to serious assault of a person over 60 and wilful damage.

Police prosecutor Rohan Brewster-Webb told the court the man had approached his mother at the family home in Harristown on December 2, 2023, asking for $200.

When she refused, he had damaged a door before following her into the lounge room where he found her sitting on the couch, he said.

Toowoomba Courthouse in Hume St, Toowoomba City.

The man had then stood over his mother and grabbed her by the throat for between 10 to 15 seconds before releasing her, he said.

He had then accused his mother of poisoning him with the dog’s semen and walked off, Mr Brewster-Webb said.

Defence solicitor Ryan McCullough, of MacDonald Law, told the court his client had mental health issues, particularly depression, and during this incident he was having a mental breakdown.

During conference, his client had expressed that he was “deeply, deeply remorseful” and had said “Mum didn’t have to go through that”, he said.

Before he was remanded in custody, his client was working and he would be returning to that job upon his release from jail, Mr McCullough said.

Magistrate Kay Ryan

Magistrate Kay Ryan noted the man’s mother was in court supporting him but reminded him that any act of violence was “extremely serious”.

“Anything could have happened,” Ms Ryan said.

“Domestic violence is something that is chronic in the community and it seems to be getting worse.”

Ms Ryan sentenced the man to six months in jail but, declaring the 52 days he had already spent in custody as time served under the sentence, ordered he be released on parole as of February 2 after he had served one-third of the sentence.