Two years’ jail a slap in the face

A SLAP in the face could cost a 23-year-old man two years of his life.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been driving his partner and two children home from Goondiwindi on November 14 when the couple started arguing, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

The driver pulled over to the side of the road and struck the woman in the mouth, causing bruising and swelling, police prosecutor Sergeant Al Windsor told the court.

She then exchanged blows with her partner who eventually drove off.

When they arrived at their home, the man had said to the woman: “Get inside you s***, you going to cop it”, Sgt Windsor said.

In fear, the woman ran to the nearby police station from where she was taken by ambulance to the town’s hospital for treatment where her partner was found about 30 minutes later in a car in the car park.

He appeared in custody to plead guilty to charges of assault occasioning bodily harm and contravening a police protection order.

Magistrate Viviana Keegan noted the 23-year-old was on parole for a previous domestic violence offence and had two years hanging over his head on that sentence.

Telling the prisoner that he might find himself having to serve out the two years in jail, Ms Keegan said she would impose concurrent jail terms.

“The community does not accept such behaviour,” she told him.

Ms Keegan said of great concern was that the violence was played out in front of two young children.

“You think you were traumatised by growing up in a home with domestic violence?” she asked him.

“Well, what do you think you’re doing to those children.”

Ms Keegan sentenced the man to 12 months in jail but ordered he be eligible to apply for release on parole immediately.

“It will be up to the Parole Board when you get out.”