More jail for ‘cowardly’ attack on ex

A DEVONPORT man whose attacks on his ex-partner were “cowardly and vicious”, has had his jail sentence increased.

Geoffrey Peter Foster was sentenced in April to 16 months’ jail, with a non-parole period of eight months, after he was found guilty of assaulting his ex-partner twice, and demanding she pay $10,000 or he would hurt her two children.

The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed against the sentence, arguing it was manifestly inadequate.

In a unanimous decision of the Court of Criminal Appeal handed down in Hobart this week, Foster’s sentence was increased to 2½ years’ jail, with a non-parole period of one year and three months.

“Violent behaviour by men towards women in relationships must be condemned and discouraged,” Justice Stephen Estcourt said in the court’s decision.

Justice Estcourt said Foster met his ex-partner through a dating website in 2016 and moved in with her and her children in early November 2016.

He said Foster “soon became very possessive and jealous”, monitored her mobile phone and required her to seek permission to leave the house.

A Supreme Court jury in Burnie found Foster guilty of assaulting the woman in December 2016 after he was, according to Justice Estcourt, “jealous and moody” about her attendance at a hens’ party.

“She became very frightened and feared for her life,” Justice Estcourt said.

The second assault and demanding money with menaces took place on December 30, 2016, after Foster became jealous when he found out his partner had contacted the mother of an ex-boyfriend.

Justice Estcourt said Foster punched the woman and said he wanted her to give him $10,000 “or he would chop her into little pieces and make her family watch, then saying it would be better if he chopped them up in front of her, then he would burn the house”.

He said Foster then slammed the woman’s head against a window frame, put his hands around her neck and threatened to kill her.

Justice Estcourt said the woman said she would give him the money. While at the bank, he said, the woman was helped by the bank manager.

The court heard Foster suffered anxiety and depression, panic attacks, paranoia and there were suggestions of bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder.