I told police I was attacked outside my local supermarket, but now I'm the one banned - and have to travel 140km just to get a carton of milk

EXCLUSIVE

A father-of-10 has been slapped with a year-long ban from the only supermarket within 70km of his home after he sheltered inside following an alleged attack by two men.

David Maynard, 54, a local horse rescuer who lives near Tara in Queensland's Western Downs, told police he was robbed in broad daylight outside FoodWorks on March 30.

Two men have since been charged over the incident - but Mr Maynard was stunned when he was sent a letter threatening him with arrest if he even tries to enter his local store.

Now he faces a marathon trip 140km round trip to the next nearest store in Chinchilla, or 190km to the one in Dalby, for even the most basic groceries.

But Mr Maynard's car is currently out of action, forcing him to rely on his mates to do  his shopping for him. 

'I feel embarrassed to ask people to do my full shopping, so I've been relying on friends to grab milk, fish pieces, Weetbix, bread,' he said.

The ban followed an alleged incident with locals Dallas James Dunlap, who was charged with one count of assault, and Darryl Anthony Taylor, charged with theft.

On the day of the alleged attack, Mr Maynard had travelled 18km into Tara from his home for brunch at the local cafe when it is alleged the two men approached him. 

It's alleged his gold chain and Akubra hat were stolen during the brawl before he tried to flee to safety inside the supermarket.

'My breathing was bad and I stumbled inside FoodWorks,' he said.

Mr Maynard says he was later taken to Tara Hospital suffering a broken rib and heart problems.

But in the wake of the alleged attack, he says he was stunned to receive the formal 'Prohibition Letter' from FoodWorks Supermarket Tara, advising him he is 'no longer authorised to enter or remain in the premises'

His lockout, registered with Tara Police, is the most serious prohibition short of a life ban that the supermarket chain, which operates 200 plus stores, can issue. 

Mr Maynard says he has not been charged over the FoodWorks incident and was dumbfounded by the prohibition order.

'How can this be right?' he said.

FoodWorks Tara refused to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. Chain owners Australian United Retailers have also been contacted for comment.

The charges against the two men over the alleged incident are due for mention in Dalby Magistrates Court on July 30. 

Mr Maynard runs a voluntary operation rescuing abandoned or retired horses and was one of the locals who helped the community come together after the murder of police officers Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow in December 2022.

The young officers and local resident Alan Dare were shot dead at Wieambilla, north of Tara, in a Doomsday cult attack by brothers Gareth and Nathaniel Train and their wife Stacey Train.

Following the shootings, as residents lay tributes outside Tara police station, Mr Maynard organised a gathering at the station for locals to observe a minute's silence for the dead.

At the time, Mr Maynard said he had recently been speaking with Constable Arnold, a fellow animal lover and a champion of women traumatised by domestic violence,  about teeing up a local football match between the community and first responders.

Mr Maynard said at the time time that counselling services for mental health in Tara were lacking and when asked how the community was holding up, he added: 'We're not.'