June 13, 2014
A man with six previous breaches of domestic violence orders was sentenced to 12 months’ jail when he appeared by videolink in Kingaroy Magistrates Court yesterday.
Magistrate Mark Bucknall told Gordon Mervyn Davidson he had an “atrocious” history and it was completely unacceptable the way he treated his partners.
He said the latest offence was committed while Davidson was serving a suspended sentence.
Mr Bucknall sentenced Davidson to nine months’ imprisonment for the latest breach of a DVO and ordered that he also serve the remaining three months of the suspended sentence, cumulative to the first penalty.
He fixed a parole release date of November 8.
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Also in Kingaroy Magistrates Court yesterday:
Dominic Jullian Smith appeared by videolink on 35 charges, including break and enter and trespass offences, and two breaches of community service orders. He was remanded in custody to June 23.
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A man on remand on a rape charge was fined $600 for breaching his bail conditions.
The 19-year-old had been granted bail on condition he not attend either Murgon or Cherbourg, except for appearances in court.
He had been staying in Brisbane but returned to Cherbourg to stay with his parents.
Magistrate Bucknall warned him: “If you return to Cherbourg or Murgon you will go to jail.”
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A convicted sex offender who failed to notify authorities of his change of residence was sentenced to three months jail.
The court heard the 26-year-old man had been convicted of an offence against a 15-year-old girl, but five years later the couple were still in a relationship.
However, Magistrate Mark Bucknall said the legislation was in place for “a damn good reason” and the fact of the ongoing relationship didn’t detract from the need to comply with the order.
The man’s solicitor told the court his client had become homeless after being stabbed in the eye, and had been “couch surfing”.
Mr Bucknall said this was the third time the man had failed to notify authorities of a change in residence. On the last occasion he had been placed on a suspended sentence.
“This legislation will be complied with,” he said. “A clear message will be sent by the court of the consequences. You have put yourself in the firing line for a term of imprisonment.”
He fixed a parole release date of July 11.
The man’s girlfriend, wiping tears from her eyes, hugged him before he was led away by police from the courtroom.
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Wade John Nittmann was committed to face trial in the District Court on a total of 10 drugs and firearms charges.
Nittmann, who appeared by videolink, has been charged with producing and possessing methamphetamine, as well as possessing cannabis, drug utensils, a reactor vessel, a Category A weapon (shotgun), ammunition, a knuckle duster, a shortened firearm (a shotgun) and a weapon with altered identification marks.
There was no application for bail. Several other charges were adjourned to August 7.
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A defence solicitor wondered aloud in court how people will be able to tell in future if vehicles are registered, following the State Government’s decision to abolish registration stickers.
Mr Mark Oliver was defending Matthew Mark John who had been charged with driving an unregistered vehicle, driving without “L Plates” and driving on a learner’s permit without a licensed driver accompanying him.
John pleaded guilty to the three counts.
Mr Oliver said his client had driven a friend’s car, which he thought was registered, and had not checked the registration sticker.
“There will be no registration stickers in future which means no one should be driving anything unless they see the registration papers. It’s going to make it very difficult for mechanics …” he said.
Mr Oliver said John had fastened temporary L-Plates, held on with suction cups, on the front and rear of the vehicle. He had seen the front one fall off, but thought he was still okay because he believed the rear one was still in place.
Mr Bucknall fined John $450.
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A 35-year-old mother of 11 children was sentenced to a total of 13 months in jail for contravening a domestic violence order, breaching a bail undertaking by failing to surrender into custody, and common assault.
Cheyenne Rose Clevens pleaded guilty.
Magistrate Bucknall noted that Clevens had five previous “fail to appears” on her record. The latest offences were committed just two weeks after she had been placed on a suspended sentence.
For the breach of the DVO, he sentenced her to four months jail with an extra two months for the bail breach. He sentenced her to one month for the assault, to be served concurrently.
He invoked the remainder of the suspended sentence – six months – which will be served cumulatively with the rest of the penalties, and fixed a parole release date of September 5.
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Clara Isabella Johanna Jonsson, from Kingaroy, was again excused from appearing in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Jonsson faces one charge of intimidating a witness.
Defence counsel said a submission would be sent to the police prosecutor and the arresting officer once his firm had received the brief of evidence.
The matter was adjourned to June 26 for mention. Bail was continued.
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Representatives from Parkside Holdings were also excused from appearing when a workplace health and safety charge was mentioned.
The charge was adjourned to August 28.
