Man jailed for stalking in ugly neighbourhood dispute
A Brisbane builder has been jailed over an ugly neighbourhood dispute spanning three years, that forced some residents to sell up.
Steven Tarasiuk was found guilty of stalking Arna Duetz following a four-and-a-half week trial in the Brisbane District Court.
Tarasiuk first came to the attention of A Current Affair four years ago when his neighbours claimed he'd been bullying residents in their leafy Indooroopilly street.
During construction of Tarasiuk's dream home, the Duetzes claimed they found nails in their fish pond and that toilet paper was tossed across from the on-site portaloo.
On one occasion they found their pet dog spray painted with stripes.
It's not known who was behind the incidents and Tarasiuk has always denied any involvement but after A Current Affair's initial story on the neighbours' claims, the Queensland Building and Construction Commission found Tarasiuk unfit to hold a licence.
But the saga wasn't about to stop there.
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Fed up, Mrs Duetz and fellow neighbour David Coates complained to police, which led to Tarasiuk being charged with stalking.
"I've basically become a prisoner in the house, I don't go out," Mrs Duetz told reporter Tim Arvier at the time.
The court heard a myriad of accusations including the words "Wankers Nabers" appearing on Tarasiuk's side of the boundary wall with the Duetzes as well as radios and compressors being left on at all hours.
A jury eventually found Tarasiuk guilty of stalking Mrs Duetz, but not guilty of stalking Mr Coates.
Brisbane District Court judge Ian Dearden sentenced Tarasiuk to 15 months' jail, suspended after five months, for stalking Mrs Duetz.
Judge Dearden also imposed a 10-year restraining order on Tarasiuk, barring him from contacting Mrs Duetz, her family as well as David Coates and his family.
Tarasiuk has lodged an appeal against the verdict.
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