Bloody attack on mum

Man jailed for abuse near ex’s daughter, 3

A BELL Post Hill man will spend three months behind bars for viciously attacking his former girlfriend near her three-year-old daughter.

Zachary Biddle appeared at Geelong Magistrates Court via video link on Monday and pleaded guilty to one charge of recklessly causing injury.

In June this year, Biddle tackled his ex-girlfriend to the ground and launched a brutal attack in her home, including punching her groin. The court heard Biddle had helped raise the victim’s three-year-old daughter and was “making threats and guilt-tripping” the woman into letting him come over to her house and spend time with the girl.

The victim allowed Biddle to come over, only to have Biddle verbally abuse her and make comments about her.

The ex-girlfriend, concerned about her daughter, told the child to go to another room.

Biddle tackled the woman to the ground and climbed on top of her. He punched her and put his fingers in her mouth, causing her to gag.

While on top of her, Biddle shifted so his knees pressed against her neck.

The woman said she gagged but could still breathe.

Biddle also dragged the woman by her legs, picked her up and then dropped her back on to the ground, where he pinned her again.

While the woman was “crying, screaming and bleeding”, Biddle kicked, punched and bit her stomach, leaving a visible mark, along with bruising to her neck and swelling in her throat.

The victim went to hospital later that day and reported the incident to police.

Defence lawyer Gorjan Nikolovski said Biddle “took on that fatherly figure to the daughter and became ultimately a stepfather” so was struggling to cope with not seeing the girl often.

Mr Nikolovski asked the court to consider a community corrections order and a term of imprisonment.

Reflecting on his criminal history, Mr Nikolovski said the current offending was a “deescalation” of his behaviour.

Magistrate Anne McGarvie sentenced Biddle to five months’ imprisonment with 52 days already served.

He will also be assessed for a CCO and will return to court in October for further sentencing.