Toowoomba stalker, DV offender, Richard Hayden released from jail

A Toowoomba man has been released from custody after pleading guilty to serious, violent, and chilling acts of domestic violence crimes.

Richard Hayden. Picture: File / Nev Madsen

A Toowoomba man guilty of subjecting a former partner to serious, violent, and chilling acts of domestic violence crimes, has been released from jail after being held in custody for 550 days.

The former youth worker and electrician who played semi-professional soccer for South West Queensland Thunder, Richard Algon Brian Hayden, pleaded guilty to a raft of domestic violence offences on Wednesday, February 5.

The Toowoomba District Court heard he committed the violent and controlling crimes in 2023 during the relationship, and when the woman ended the relationship he began stalking her at home and workplace.

He was armed with a knife during one of the stalking incidents.

Richard Hayden at Holland Park for the SW Qld Thunder vs Holland Park Hawks FC game on Sunday, 1st March, 2020.

The 24-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of assault, assault occasioning bodily harm while armed with a knife, two counts of strangulation, stalking, and two stealing offences.

The court heard Hayden was a jealous and controlling partner who assaulted the woman on a number of occasions where he would slap her in the face and strangle her.

One of the attacks occurred while the pair were travelling in a car, where Hayden choked the woman and accused her of talking to her sister in ‘code’.

On two occasions Hayden transferred large sums of money from the woman’s bank account without her permission where he wrote abusive things in the transfer description.

One of the transfers was successful, with Hayden taking $2500 however a $15,000 transfer failed.

During one of many violent domestic violence incidents, the court heard Hayden slashed the woman’s friend with a knife, leaving a 2 to 3cm laceration on the woman’s hand.

Barrister John Davis said his client’s behaviour was a severe example of domestic violence marking the young man’s “serious fall from grace”.

Mr Davis said Hayden had no criminal history, was remorseful, and took full responsibility for his actions.

He said Hayden’s ADHD, trauma, and substance abuse may have contributed to the offending, however it was not an excuse.

Mr Davis said upon Hayden’s release he plans to leave Toowoomba, get a mining job, and work towards starting his own trade company.

Judge John Allen KC told Hayden his behaviour was inexcusable and disgraceful, noting the particular seriousness of the strangulation charges which are considered a precursor to death.

He commended Hayden on his early success despite his prejudicial upbringing.

Judge Allen said Hayden had “every prospect” of being a useful member of society and a good partner to future lovers, and urged him to take advantage of opportunities to better himself through parole.

Hayden’s sentence was structured in a way that allowed him to be released immediately rather than applying for release through the parole board.

He was sentenced to a three year head sentence, with immediate release on parole.

The time he spent in custody was not declared.