Domestic punch leads to large fine

A TOOWOOMBA man who punched his de facto partner in the face during a domestic dispute has been handed a sizeable fine.

The couple got into an argument on the morning of February 19 after waking to find their two-year-old child crying, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

During the argument, the woman had called the man names before slapping his face, prompting the 53-year-old man to punch her in the mouth, police prosecutor Julia Wheaton told the court.

The assault was in breach of a domestic violence order (DVO) to which he was subject at the time and he had also failed to report to police within the required hours as part of his bail conditions, Senior Constable Wheaton said.

The man, who cannot be named due to domestic violence orders, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, breaching a domestic violence protection order and breaching a condition of bail.

His solicitor Sarah Campbell told the court the couple had since reconciled and in a new home and life had improved for them.

The couple was looking to relocate to New South Wales where her client had employment, Ms Campbell submitted.

Magistrate Catherine Pirie told the defendant that, despite receiving a slap to the face, he should not have retaliated in the manner he did.

“Your response was disproportionate but I accept you are remorseful,” Ms Pirie said.

Noting any monetary penalty would come against the family and not just the defendant, Mr Pirie fined the man a total $1800 and extended the DVO by one year to July 19, 2019.