A man has avoided jail after subjecting his island-dwelling neighbours to a five-year reign of “vile, misogynistic” terror, threatening to kill a married couple and a postwoman during his lengthy stalking campaign.
Little explanation could be given for Ralph Eric Dunsmore’s bizarre acts towards the residents of Queensland’s Russell Island, with a court being told the offences dated back as late as 2016.
One elderly couple had their stormwater drains deliberately clogged with concrete, had flashlights and spotlights shone into their home and were repeatedly intimidated by Dunsmore, 61, as he filmed and harassed them in public.
Another neighbour had his car door dented after Dunsmore deliberately drove into it with his own car, Crown prosecutor Michael Gawrych said.
“He created unnecessary conflict within the community in which he implemented fear and violence towards the complainants,” Mr Gawrych told Brisbane Supreme Court on Thursday.
“His offending was persistent, prolonged and over a significant period of time.
“It was without reason or justification … it was erratic and multifaceted.”
Dunsmore pleaded guilty to a single count of wilful damage and four counts of unlawful stalking – three of which involved threats of violence.
The court was told he moved to Russell Island, a small coastal island off the coast of Queensland’s Moreton Bay region, in November 2015.
Eight months later he started a campaign of harassment against his next-door neighbours that lasted for five years.
They included making false complaints to the local council about illegal plumbing and sewerage coming onto his property, clogging the couple’s stormwater drains with concrete, shining lights into their home and revving his engine close to their house.
Dunsmore also intimidated them with verbal abuse, frequently filming them in public or in their homes and driving dangerously while they were on their road.
On one occasion he stood in the middle of the road as the couple drove their car before saying they were both “gone” and he “wanted them to die somewhere”.
The court was told Dunsmore messaged another man, saying he would be killed and “the complainants would know why”.
When confronted by police, Dunsmore responded “angrily” and threatened to kill the man and his wife.
“From the outset, your conduct was harassing,” District Court Judge Jodie Wooldridge said.
In August 2020, when the couple were trying to sell their house, Dunsmore falsely reported they had illegal plumbing at the property.
That same year, he deliberately drove into a neighbour’s car with his own, denting the driver-side door.
The event was captured on Dunsmore’s dashcam, Judge Wooldridge noted.
Other neighbours weren’t spared from his wrath, with Dunsmore subjecting another woman to similar behaviour for four months in 2021.
“Your conduct involved driving your car in proximity to her vehicle, following her and otherwise driving in an intimidatory way,” Judge Wooldridge said.
“You drove past slowly while she was attending the shops, looking at her … you made rude gestures and flashed your headlights.”
The court was told Dunsmore stalked the woman after a good behaviour order she had sought from a court expired.
He stalked a postwoman between June and August 2021 – verbally abusing her, calling her a “parasite”, telling her she was “dead” and using his driving to intimidate her.
The woman had to change her mail delivery route to avoid Dunsmore’s address.
The court was told there was little to no explanation for his behaviour, outside of Mr Gawrych calling it a “personality trait for which he did not like these people”.
Dunsmore spent 117 days in custody before his release on bail but was no longer residing on the island.
Defence barrister James Feely explained his client was awaiting knee replacement surgery and had “no immediate” plans to return to the property.
Dunsmore had since expressed remorse for his offending.
Mr Feely said while his client had grievances with his neighbours, he acted “irrationally and disproportionately”.
Judge Wooldridge imposed a head sentence of two years’ jail but immediately released Dunsmore on parole.
She also imposed restraining orders in regards to each of the complainants.