Timothy Andrew Butler, 29, and his co-accused, who can not be named as she is yet to front court, were charged with various offences including torture, deprivation of liberty and robbery of the Sydney man on April 14 last year.

Yesterday Butler, a former Toowoomba resident, pleaded guilty to all charges, with his defence lawyer stating he had committed the violent crimes to get back into jail.

Victim overheard plans

The Maroochydore District Court heard Butler was drinking at the Sofitel Pacific Resort bar in Noosa Heads with the complainant and his friends who had been visiting on holiday.

When the group left the venue Butler drove past, honking his horn, encouraging the victim to continue partying with him.

When he agreed, he was instead held captive for more than five hours and beaten until he was bleeding and “couldn’t see from his eyes”.

The Crown prosecutor told the court Butler warned the victim if he tried to escape from his car he would kill him and “throw him into the woods”, before demanding his credit card pin and robbing him of $1000.

The complainant was then forced into the vehicle’s boot as Butler picked up more passengers, discussing killing the victim and hiding his body in the woods within the man’s earshot.

After five hours the group eventually let the man go, warning him not to contact police.

The complainant was taken to Noosa Hospital with extensive bruising to his face and body.

Butler ‘commits crimes to go to jail’

The court heard Butler was eventually tracked down to Toowoomba in early May where he was arrested for his crimes in Noosa, as well as a spate of further offences he had since committed — among the ten charges Butler faced yesterday.

In addition to the physical wounds inflicted on the Sydney man by Butler, the Crown Prosecutor told the court the “painful and degrading experience” had heavily impacted the victim “socially, emotionally, and financially”.

The court heard he was diagnosed with PTSD, depression, and anxiety, to the point he feared leaving his home at times.

Butler’s significant and violent criminal history was also tendered, stretching back over a decade.

His defence lawyer told the court Butler had spent every birthday since his 18th in jail and was essentially “institutionalised” with no understanding of how to function in normal society.

“He can’t do things when he gets out — rent, bills, he’s never learnt,” the court heard.

“He knows prison and how it works. He’s more comfortable there, he offends to go back to prison.”

Butler’s defence lawyer said the 29-year-old had come from a difficult upbringing where he was taught by his older brother to be violent or “be flogged himself”.

The court heard Butler “desperately wants to break the cycle he’s in, but it can only be done with considerably support”.

“He understands he has to stay off drugs and alcohol”.

Butler was sentenced to six years jail and is eligible for parole in May 2021, having already served 360 days in custody.

His co-accused is due to face court over her alleged involvement in the ordeal in early November.

– ABC / Tara Cassidy