Jailed for assaulting ex-wife

A DRUG-AFFECTED man had assaulted his pregnant ex-de facto wife as she cradled their one-year-old son in her arms, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

The woman, who was four months pregnant, was asleep in bed with her infant son when her ex-partner, 22, smashed a glass sliding door to enter her Newtown home about 3.15am, February 18, the court heard.

Grabbing her child, she locked herself in the toilet but the man had broken in, forcing her to run out into the street, police prosecutor Leea Trewin told the court.

As she went into the street she felt a punch or kick to the back.

Fortunately, a neighbour came to her aid and the man ran off, Senior Constable Trewin said.

The man was later found by police at Toowoomba Hospital where he had gone for treatment to cuts sustained when he smashed the glass door, she said.

The 22-year-old, who is not named to as to protect the victim’s identity, appeared by prison video link to plead guilty to burglary, common assault, breaching a domestic violence order and possessing an “ice pipe” found in his backpack left at the scene.

His solicitor Divina DeLeon told the court her client had been a heavy ice user at the time but had used the 98 days he had since spent in custody to get clean of drugs.

Because of his drug use her client’s relationship with the woman had broken down and he intended moving to Brisbane with family when released from prison.

Magistrate Graham Lee noted the man was on parole at the time for similar offending and sentenced him to 18 months in jail but ordered he be eligible to apply for release on parole as of August 18.