Jail for protection breach

Man breaks two domestic orders after prison release

A WOMAN who had taken a domestic violence order against her former partner woke to find his clenched fist pressed against her face, the Toowoomba Magistrates Court had been told.

The man, who cannot be identified in order to protect the identity of the woman, was a respondent to two orders which he yesterday pleaded guilty to breaching earlier this year.

Prosecutor Julia Wheaton said police were called to a Toowoomba address about 3.30pm on April 9 after the woman reported his angry outburst earlier that day.

Senior Constable Wheaton said the woman had woken to find the man standing over her with a clenched fist pressed against her face, and that he had called her a number of obscene names.

The man had initially left the address but returned later that day when he was questioned and arrested by police, she said.

The man admitted to the argument, that he had told the woman to “**** off”, and had “no reason for his behaviour”, Snr Const Wheaton said.

The court heard the woman was aware the man had recently been released from prison and she had given him permission to live with her at the address.

The second charge related to the breach of a domestic violence order made against the man by his father which banned him from attending a particular address.

Solicitor Claire Graham said her client, 31, had been in a relationship with the woman and they had three children together.

On his release from custody on March 31, the man had tried to repair the relationship with the woman but accepted he “shouldn’t have been there” while subject to a domestic violence order, Ms Graham said.

She said her client was apologetic for his actions and had since accepted the relationship was over, and that it was “not healthy”.

Acting Magistrate Robert Walker said the man’s actions were “disturbing” and he had terrorised the woman.

He sentenced the man to three months imprisonment for each breach, taking into consideration 19 days of pre-sentence custody, and ordered he be released on parole immediately.