News Service from House Harris

QLD: Dildo-wielding man remains behind bars

BRISBANE, Jan 15 AAP - A man who allegedly broke into a house wearing a black leather mask and used a sex toy to beat a woman, before killing her dog, has been ordered to remain behind bars.

Shaun Michael Burke, 38, from Mount Pleasant in Mackay, and a 21-year-old woman allegedly broke into a Mackay home at 3am (AEST) on Monday.

On Tuesday, Mackay Magistrates Court was told Burke wore a black leather mask and was armed with a large rubber dildo wrapped in duct tape, which he used to assault the 49-year-old female occupant of the house.

Burke allegedly hit the woman about the face and head with the dildo, leaving her with bruising and small bumps to her face.

The woman's mother and 19-year-old son, who witnessed the event, escaped the home.

Burke and his female co-accused then allegedly took the family dog, a Lahasa Apso, to a nearby park where they taped it to a tree, causing it to asphyxiate and die.

On Thursday, Burke's lawyer told the court his client, who is married and has children, would face financial troubles if he remained in jail, as he would be unable to work and pay his mortgage.

But Magistrate Ross Risson refused Burke bail, deeming him an unacceptable risk to the complainant.

Police have charged the pair with robbery with violence, wilful killing of an animal, entering a dwelling with intent, common assault and wilful damage.

Burke will front court again on Monday.