Man Charged With Extortion

June 14, 2021

A 31-year-old Ellesmere man charged with extortion was granted bail with strict conditions when he appeared in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon.

Police allege the man sent messages demanding a second man give him money and a vehicle.

Defence solicitor Tom Carr argued police did not have a strong case.

Magistrate Andrew Sinclair released the man on bail to reappear in court on August 2.

Bail conditions included he wear an anklet bracelet and not use Snapchat or any encrypted apps.

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A former soldier, who served two tours in Afghanistan, pleaded guilty to breaching a domestic violence order when he appeared in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon.

The man admitted kicking a door at the Fitzroy Hotel in Nanango, after going to the pub to speak to his partner.

Both the man and the woman are subject to cross-orders that neither should approach the other.

Defence solicitor Tom Carr said the former soldier had gone to the hotel to talk to his partner “to vent” after being “hounded” by an ABC journalist seeking details about his experiences in Afghanistan.

Magistrate Sinclair said the ex-soldier needed some assistance.

He placed him on six months’ probation so he could attend counselling ordered during that time.

No conviction was recorded.

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A 21-year-old New Farm man will appear in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on July 5 charged with obstructing police, disobeying a direction and two counts of drug possession after an alleged incident at an address in Youngman Street, Kignaroy, on Sunday morning.

Police will allege the man was asked a number of times to leave the area before being given a move-on direction which he ignored. He was then arrested. A search at the watchhouse allegedly located a small amount of cannabis and a number of unprescribed medications.