Toowoomba’s bizarre cases: 21 of the strangest cases that appeared in Toowoomba court

Drink drivers calling the police on themselves, drug drivers fleeing from ‘bacon-flavoured people’ and drug dealers using bird codes, here are 21 of the more bizarre cases from Toowoomba courts this year.

Toowoomba courts in 2021 heard their fair share of strange, bizarre and downright bonkers cases where people committed all sorts of various offences. Here are 21 of the strangest cases that we have heard this year.

Man treated for police dog bites found with drugs in his bum

A 33-year-old offender being treated for police dog bite wounds at Toowoomba Hospital was found with a bag of meth up his bum.

Nathan James Ramsey had been directed by police to pull over while driving on Hursley Road at 3.30am, August 18 2021.

Nathan James Ramsey was sentenced to 12 months’ jail, to be suspended after four months.

However, ignoring the direction he drove on but 15 minutes later his car ran over tyre deflation “stingers”, however continued to evade police until he was found hiding in bushes by the police dog squad where the canine latched onto him.

Taken to Toowoomba Hospital, he was being treated for the dog bite wounds when a clip seal bag with 3.4g of meth was found in his buttocks.

Ramsey pleaded guilty to 12 offences from that night including dangerous driving while adversely effected by an intoxicating substance, disqualified driving, evading police, obstructing police, trespassing and possessing dangerous drugs and ammunition.

Magistrate Kay Ryan sentenced him to 12 months’ jail, minus the 50 days he had already served, and ordered the term be suspended after he has served four months for 18 months.

Ramsey was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for five years.

Public masturbator jailed for ‘gross and indecent act’ in Toowoomba

A Toowoomba man with a penchant for using sticks as sex toys on himself while pleasuring himself in public has been jailed for the indecent acts.

Christopher Neale Roberts had been arrested by police after a foot chase through Toowoomba’s CBD streets.

The 34-year-old had been on the police radar since reports of his bizarre behaviour from a number of residents after he was seen and captured on CCTV performing sex acts on himself in public places.

Roberts appeared by video link from the watch house in Toowoomba Magistrates Court in August to plead guilty to 14 offences including eight counts of trespassing, two each of stealing and obstructing police and “committing an indecent act in any place to which the public are permitted access”.

Magistrate Howard Osborne said the indecent acts were the most serious of the charges.

“It was a gross and indecent act for which is offered no real explanation,” he said.

Mr Osborne jailed Roberts for six months but ordered he be released on parole on October 4 after having served two months.

He was also fined $800 for obstructing police.

Man who used sawn-off rifle believed intruders were at his home

Richard John Scott was convinced several intruders were approaching his home intent on causing harm to himself and his property.

He phoned Triple-0 telling police he saw at least one of the intruders armed with a pistol.

But he didn’t wait for the officers before acting.

The Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard in June that the 52-year-old man took hold of an unregistered sawn-off 0.243 calibre rifle and started firing indiscriminately into the night on August 12, 2019.

When police arrived at Scott’s Millmerran Woods home, they found spent bullet casings scattered around the property and his illegal firearm, but no intruders.

Scott pleaded guilty to a raft of weapons act offences, including dangerous conduct with a weapon, possessing a shortened firearm and unlawful possession of a weapon. Magistrate Howard Osborne ordered a head sentence of six months jail for dangerous conduct with a weapon.

‘Larrikin’ who gave ‘bird’ to police cops a spray – capsicum spray

A Gatton man copped a spray after giving a two finger salute to a police patrol during a night out in Toowoomba’s CBD.

Ben Kevin Morrison, 25, flicked the middle finger of each hand to a police patrol on Margaret St outside The Cube about 3am on May 1, Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told in November.

Ben Kevin Morrison

When police went over and spoke with him about his behaviour, he became verbally abusive, telling police the gesture was a joke and that they were a “massive joke” by responding, police prosecutor Sergeant Jacquelyn Miller told the court.

Morrison pleaded guilty to public nuisance within the vicinity of a licensed premises and obstructing police and was ordered to complete 60 hours of community service by magistrate Kay Ryan.

Court hears man assumed police after him. They weren’t

When police entered the backyard of a Trapp Street home inquiring about a stolen car, Brodie Robert McDermott assumed they were looking for him, so he legged it.

In June Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard the 25-year-old man was behind the wheel of a mate’s car and high on meth at the time.

He reversed the car into a boundary fence and rammed a police vehicle before crashing into a second fence.

Police Prosecutor Chris Willson said McDermott fled on foot through several yards before police dogs found him hiding in a rainwater tank.

McDermott pleaded guilty to 11 offences, including dangerous operation of vehicle and trespass.

Magistrate Graham Lee noted that McDermott was exposed to a long period in jail as he was on parole when he rammed the police car.

His parole was suspended two days after his arrest on February 6, meaning he must serve the balance of an 18 month sentence, which will expire on January 4, 2022

Mr Lee ordered a fresh six-month jail term to be served cumulatively and gave McDermott an immediate parole eligibility date.

Oakey man with a penchant for police chases returned to jail

An Oakey man who led police on a chase through the town in a stolen Audi A6 which was brought to a halt by police tyre spikes has been jailed.

Russell William Gillis had a history of such offending and a penchant for drawing police into pursuits, Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told in November.

“He likes to get into chases with police in stolen cars,” police prosecutor Chris Willson told the court.

Russell William Gillis pleaded guilty before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on November 19, 2021, to eight offences.

Magistrate Graham Lee sentenced Gillis to 20 months in jail but, declaring the 99 days as time already served under the sentence, ordered the term be suspended after he has served six months with the balance to hang over his head for two years during which time he was not to commit further offences or risk being returned to jail.

Man called police to tell them he was drink-driving

A Toowoomba man was so concerned about his own drink-driving that he called police to report himself.

Police arrived about 10pm, June 29, to find Colin Lee Andrews sitting in the driver’s seat of his car parked at the side of McGregor St, Wilsonton, with the keys in the ignition.

Telling police he had about 14 shots of various alcoholic drinks, he was breath tested and blew a breath/alcohol reading of 0.171, police prosecutor Chris Willson told Toowoomba Magistrates Court in September.

The 40-year-old told police he had driven after being involved in an argument at home, Senior Constable Willson said.

Andrews pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of liquor.

Magistrate Howard Osborne placed Andrews on 12 months probation and disqualified him from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for 12 months.

Two men pay $3000 for sugar cane mulch they thought was marijuana

Two men were left disappointed and charged after paying $3000 for a shipment of cannabis only to pick up two cases of sugar cane mulch.

Damien Seears had paid the $3000 cash when ordering what he thought would be 1lb (0.45kg) of cannabis from a South Australian outlet in September last year.

To make the order, the 41-year-old had used the mobile phone of his Ipswich housemate, William Rolfe Herman Bettels, 44, had his phone and Facebook page under the name “Justin Case”, Toowoomba District Court heard in September.

The pair pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cannabis in an amount above 500g.

Chief Judge Brian Devereaux SC sentenced each man to 12 months in jail but ordered the term be wholly suspended for 12 months.

Drugged-up 28-year-old thought ‘bacon flavoured people’ were chasing him

A drugged up driver had run into the Toowoomba Police Station screaming that “bacon-flavoured people” were chasing him, the city’s Magistrates Court has been told.

Matthew Shane Koina told police he had driven from his home in Mort St through Toowoomba’s CBD to the police station in the car of the “bacon-flavoured people” who had taken his car.

A man on meth believed he was being chased by 'bacon-flavoured people'.

Police prosecutor Cameron Francis told the court in September the 28-year-old arrived at the police station about 2.20am, August 28, yelling and screaming about “bacon-flavoured people”.

Magistrate Kay Ryan described the case as “unusual”, fined Koina $1200 and disqualified him from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for 12 months.

Drug trafficker jailed after cops crack budgie code

A budgie breeder who attempted to use bird-related code to conceal her drug dealing operation from police has been jailed.

St George woman Tanya Madge Nelson was sentenced in the Toowoomba Supreme Court in September after pleading guilty to trafficking methylamphetamine.

The court was told that between June 2019 and May 2020, the 40-year-old was involved in distributing small quantities of ice in the area, and would make the eight- hour round trip to Toowoomba to buy more drugs.

Justice Peter Callaghan said Nelson was “cunning” in the way she ran her business.

“Not only were you distributing this dreadful drug into the community yourself, you were assisting others to turn themselves into criminals,” he said.

Nelson was convicted and sentenced to a four year jail term, with a non parole period of six months, as well as three years probation.

Smoking cones and charging phone recipe for conviction

A Toowoomba teenager’s view of an afternoon sunset at a lookout was soured when he was caught smoking three cones of marijuana behind the wheel of his car.

Liam John Pember appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court in September where he pleaded guilty to drug driving and contravening a direction or requirement of police.

Police prosecutor Cameron Francis said Pember was in the driver’s seat with the ignition on while charging his phone and he told police that he had driven to the lookout area where he had smoked three cones of marijuana.

Magistrate Graham Lee fined Pember $500, and he was disqualified from driving for three months. A conviction was recorded.

Thief fails to flog stolen nail gun on Facebook, tries to return it

A Toowoomba man shot himself in the foot when he attempted to make some quick cash with a stolen nail gun after he failed to find a buyer for the stolen property online.

Daniel John Schafer, 25, appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court in September where he pleaded guilty to stealing and attempted fraud.

Daniel John Schafer, 25, has appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to stealing and attempted fraud.

The court was told that at 1pm on May 1 Schafer and a co-accused were captured on CCTV at Bunnings in North Toowoomba taking a $899 nail gun pack, leaving through the tradies area without paying for the item.

“The same day (Schafer) and the co-accused posted advertisements on Facebook offering to sell the nail gun for $700 but neither of them were successful,” police prosecutor Cameron Francis said.

Magistrate Graham Lee convicted Schafer and sentenced him to a three month jail term suspended for 12 months. Schafer was also fined $850 and disqualified from driving for two years.

Man on curfew and alcohol ban calls cops from the pub at 1am

Toowoomba man Benjamin Richard Hudd was breaching bail in a number of ways when he called police for a favour and got himself locked up for the night.

Hudd had been released from the Toowoomba watch house on October 15, 2021 with bail conditions which required him to live at a certain address in Oakey, abide by a 10pm to 6am curfew and be under the 0.08 breath/alcohol limit.

So, when he rang police at 1am the next day from the National Hotel in Toowoomba asking cops to bring his medication that he’d left at the watch house to the Russell Street pub, he should have known where he would end up.

Having spent the night in custody, Judd appeared via video link from the watch house to plead guilty to breaching his bail conditions.

Magistrate Kay Ryan sentenced Hudd to a probation order so he could be supervised and get help while in the community.

Toowoomba man had sawn off rifle with laser scope attached

A Toowoomba man found with a sawn off shotgun which had a laser scope duct taped to the barrel has been jailed for 12 months.

Police claim Anthony Reuban Troy Wells had been found hiding in the bathroom of a Toowoomba residence on August 7.

A sawn off shotgun with a laser scope attached by duct tape had been found in the bathroom and four shotgun bullets had been found in his backpack, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

Anthony Reuban Troy Wells

Another shotgun bullet was found on the floor of the police “pod” after the 26-year-old was taken to the watch house and police suspected the bullet had been secreted on his person, police prosecutor Cameron Francis told the court.

Wells appeared by video link from Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre in October to plead guilty to unlawfully possessing a weapon and ammunition as well as associated charges.

Magistrate Howard Osborne sentenced Wells to 12 months in jail but, declaring 70 days as time already served under the sentence, ordered he be released on parole on November 11 after having served three months.

Drink driver swerved over the road while changing songs in view of police

A drink driver that had an open carton of beer strapped in the passenger’s seat was on her phone, swerving across the road, in full view of police conducting roadside breath testing, a court was told.

Liza Knight appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court in December and pleaded guilty to using a mobile phone while behind the wheel, and driving while over the middle alcohol limit.

Knight’s solicitor Michael McElhinney said his client was cooperative to the point of admitting she was on her phone when stopped by police.

Magistrate Graham Lee convicted Knight, fined her $1500, and disqualified her for three months.

‘Plastered’ 20-y-o put cop in choker hold during violent arrest

A 21-year-old Toowoomba man who briefly held a policeman in a choker hold while being arrested during a drunken tirade on a Newtown street has narrowly avoided actual jail time.

Reece McDermott blew a breath/alcohol reading of 0.205 when taken to the watch house after the incident on the night of July 26, Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told in October.

Reece McDermott

Police were called after the then 20-year-old went on a drunken tirade, smashing a wall, two windows and a mailbox with a cricket bat.

Calling police “f---ing dogs”, McDermott told police “you’ll have to lock me up”, leading to a violent struggle on the street, police prosecutor Sergeant Al Windsor said.

Magistrate Graham Lee sentenced McDermott to 12 months in jail but suspended the term for two years, ordered he do 140 hours community service and placed him on two years probation.

‘Prize idiot’ put lit cigarette lighter to service station fuel pump nozzle

A “prize idiot” who held a lit cigarette lighter to the nozzle of a service station fuel pump was lucky not to have woken up “in hospital or a jail cell”, a Toowoomba magistrate told him.

Magistrate Howard Osborne’s comments came when told of a drunken Mike Barrie Finnigan’s actions about 8.30pm at United Fuels in Nanango.

The 29-year-old pleaded guilty to a charge of public nuisance.

“He’d have to be a prize idiot,” Mr Osborne said when fining and convicting Finnigan $850 for the offence.

Thug hid drugs up his bum to help in him sleep on watch house bunk

A career thug with 11-page criminal history littered with acts of violence blamed the police after he was caught hiding drugs in his bum.

The Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard Tyrone Michael Thomas Whittaker, 30, was being held in the Toowoomba watch house for several days in late October after he stole alcohol from a bottle shop and punched a man who had found his wallet in a motel.

Police prosecutor Natalie Bugden said Whitaker was unhappy with his food, and later police observed Whittaker using a “hand distraction” technique to flick a small aluminium foil package onto the ground before tucking it between his bum cheeks..

In December Whittaker pleaded guilty to 10 offences, including assault police, drug possession and assault occasioning bodily harm.

Magistrate Kay Ryan ordered a 20-month jail term, recorded 37 days in pre-sentence custody and set a parole release date at April 27, 2022.

Man steals handbag from Grand Central for his ex-partner

A Toowoomba man flogged a $199 from a store in Grand Central as a birthday present for his ex-partner, only to throw the bag away.

Bailey John Keep appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court in December where he pleaded guilty to stealing.

Bailey John Keep has appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court for stealing a $199 handbag as a gift for his ex-girlfriend’s birthday. Pic: Supplied

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Chris Willson said Keep snatched a $199 handbag from a display rack at the front of the store before leaving Grand Central without paying for the bag.

On November 2 police found Keep on Ruthven Street and after initially denying any knowledge of the bag he eventually told police he stole the bag as a gift for his ex-girlfriend for her birthday but that he never gave it to her, and “disposed” of it.

Magistrate Kay Ryan ordered Keep perform 50 hours community service, to be completed within 12 months, and that he pay restitution of $199. A conviction was recorded.

Home Alone audio used in bizarre harassment of ex-husband

A woman with no relevant criminal history copped a verbal lashing from the magistrate after she phoned her ex-partner more than 60 times in two days.

On Monday the Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard Amanda Clare Jones had lost contact with her children after a messy divorce in 2012 but wanted them to be at her upcoming wedding to her new partner.

Police prosecutor Leea Trewin said the woman made 39 calls on July 1 from 7pm onwards.

“There was audio from a movie from Home Alone, saying ‘Hey I am going to give you to the count of ten to get your yellow no-good keister off my property before I pump your guts full of lead,” Senior Constable Trewin said.

There were 24 calls made the next day.

Police charged Jones with one count of using a carriage service to menace and harass, to which she pleaded guilty in November.

Magistrate Kay Ryan said it was appalling behaviour before Jones interrupted to say she agreed. Ms Ryan cut the woman off, telling her to shut up because she had already had a chance to address the court.

Ms Ryan placed Jones on an $800 good behaviour bond for 12 months and recorded the conviction.

Sex toys, cars and $13,000 cash stolen in Toowoomba man’s crime spree

A Toowoomba man’s four month crime spree saw him stealing $950 worth of sex toys to stealing cars to being found with $13,000 cash suspected stolen.

Thomas John Dunlea, 36, had spent 156 days in custody before pleading guilty in Toowoomba Magistrates Court in November to a total 21 offences.

Dunlea, who appeared via video link from Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre, apologised for his offending.

Thomas John Dunlea appeared via video link from Arthur Gorrie to plead guilty before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on November 19, 2021, to 21 offences.

“I just want to apologise to the court and to the community as a whole,” he said.

Magistrate Graham Lee sentenced Dunlea to 18 months in jail but, declaring 156 days as time served, ordered he be released immediately on parole.

Dunlea was ordered to pay $477 half compensation for the stolen sex toys which Mr Lee ordered be returned to the store if they are found.