Video brings jail term

Men arrested at close of police siege

One of two men arrested at the close of a police siege in Newtown has been released from jail on parole.

Peter Mark Gibbs appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court by videolink from Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre on Wednesday to plead guilty to one count each of unlawful possession of a weapon, possessing tainted property, burglary and other offences.

The court was told the 35year-old man broke into two Toowoomba homes on November 29, 2022.

At the first he stole an iPad, some jewellery, a handbag and a vehicle, while at the second home he stole more jewellery and a mobile phone.

Police prosecutor Jessica Lynch told the court that Gibbs was interrupted by the 86-year-old man living at the address.

Investigators searched Gibbs’ home and found a bag containing a large amount of stolen jewellery.

Gibbs was one of two men taken into custody following a six-hour siege in Newtown on December 21, 2022 where shots were fired.

The second man, Morgan Western Troy Mundey, has been charged with acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, among other offences, but is yet to enter a plea.

On the day of the siege, Gibbs was identified with a stolen Glock handgun in a video posted to social media, the court was told.

With this video, police were able to charge him with a Weapons Act offence, however he was charged with no other offences in relation to the stand-off.

Defence solicitor Phil Stainton, of Legal Aid Toowoomba, told the court his client had a dated criminal history, and had kept out of trouble for about 10 years, until the 18year relationship with the mother of his children fell apart.

Mr Stainton said Gibbs turned to drugs as a result.

“For the four months leading up to incarceration he was using meth and associating with people he would not normally come into contact with,” he said.

Mr Stainton added that his client had used the 161 days in pre-sentence custody to get clean and was motivated to stay drug and crime free to be a positive role model for his children.

He went on to say that Gibb’s mother, who supported him in the courtroom, would take an active role in keeping him on the right path.

Magistrate Clare Kelly sentenced Gibbs to 13 months in jail and released him on immediate parole after taking into account time already served.

“You have some plans to be a positive role model for your children, that requires some help and I understand you will have that help through your mum and the parole board,” she said.