DV offender on stalking charge
No bail as man poses ‘risk’ to ex
A TOOWOOMBA man accused of stalking his ex-partner has been refused bail after a magistrate deemed he was too great of a risk of reoffending.
Christopher James Robins was represented by lawyer Chelsea Saldumbide, who applied for bail on his behalf in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday, March 22.
Ms Saldumbide submitted that procedures could be put in place to satisfy the court that Mr Robins would not commit acts of domestic violence, such as a monitoring anklet.
The court was told Mr Robins was sentenced to a 12 month probation order in February for domestic violence offences which included the dangerous operation of a vehicle and wilful damage.
Those crimes were committed against the woman he was alleged to have stalked.
The woman told police she saw Mr Robins allegedly riding past her home on a pushbike, and that he would slow down and look inside her windows.
However, Ms Saldumbide told the court Mr Robins’ bike had been broken, and questioned how the woman would be able to recognise the man in low lighting as it was dark when it was alleged to have happened.
The court was told the apprentice plant operator had spent time in a New South Wales jail in 2003 for “significant” offences which included violence, and that he was also convicted of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm in 2015.
Police prosecutor Rohan Brewster-Webb said given the 39-year-old’s criminal history he posed too great of a risk to the community, and acting magistrate Any Cridland agreed after taking a break to consider the matter in depth.
Mr Cridland said the allegations were very concerning considering he was recently sentenced to a probation order for the dangerous operation of a vehicle and wilful damage which were DV related.
If released from custody, Mr Cridland said he would be concerned that Mr Robins may pose a risk to the woman and himself.
Mr Robins was refused bail, and the case will next be mentioned on March 29.