By Melissa Coleman
A local business owner appeared in Stanthorpe courthouse charged with using his mobile phone to cause a menace and to harass.
The man pleaded guilty to sending abusive text messages to the victim, and phone calls at all hours of the day and night.
Over a period from 21 December to 22 July, the accused sent a text message which bordered on harassment and Magistrate Sturgess said these were significant threats of violence.
“This has gone on for a period of seven months with numerous contacts and abusive name calling,” Magistrate Sturgess said.
“This certainly isn’t a trivial matter.”
His lawyer said it was out of sheer frustration that he continued to contact the victim as he couldn’t receive a response.
“My client saw that the job wasn’t done correctly, and it should have been rectified. His frustration rose because the victim in this matter just kept on ignoring it,” the defence lawyer said.
“In my client’s mind he felt he had a responsibility to sort this out.”
Magistrate Sturgess said despite the case being a borderline harassment and due to the good character of the man and his job no conviction was made.
However, he received $1500 good behaviour bond.
