Girl, 17, ‘bashed, choked’

A 17-YEAR OLD girl is the latest victim of the Gold Coast’s domestic violence scourge.

The ex-boyfriend of the teen, who is now 18, yesterday pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court to several serious attacks on her last year, when they were both aged 17.

The court heard he went on to assault the girl in her home while on bail for brutally bash- ing her and served three months behind bars.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the victim, was yesterday sentenced to 18 months’ jail but was released on immediate parole pleading guilty to two counts of common assault, one of deprivation of liberty, assault occasioning bodily harm and choking.

The court heard the pair had been in a “toxic relationship” for about four months when the violence began.

Last September, he hit her in the back of the head during an argument before a neighbour came and removed the girl from her home property.

About a month later, when a protection order was in place between the pair, they agreed to meet and went to a waterfall at Beechmont to swim.

On the way back the man told her they were no longer in a relationship and they got in the car together. The girl began cry before the man told her to “be quiet”, pushed her head against the window and punched her in mouth, the court heard. He then yelled she had “made him do it”.

When he arrived at her street, he pulled the girl out of the car before strangling her until she could not breathe. Soon after, he forced her back into the car and wouldn’t let her out for two hours.

During sentencing, crown prosecutor Natalie Lima said the man used “protracted violence” and “degrading language”.

“Blaming the complainant for forcing him to punch her is particularly distasteful and showed a lack on insight into the offending,” she said.

Defence barrister Charles Bagley told the court the man had come from a dysfunctional family where his mother was the subject of serious domestic violence, including having “axes thrown through the front door” for some years.

“My client understands how bad his behaviour was,” he said.

In sentencing, Judge Catherine Muir said the man had acted reprehensibly.

She said cases like his were “complicated” when both parties insist on seeing each other despite no contact orders being in place.

“It was a very toxic relationship. In no way do I suggest the complainant asked to be treated in the way she was ... it seems to be you were both terribly bad for each other,” Ms Muir said.