Soldier’s string of offences

A SOLDIER has been fined, ordered to perform community service and disqualified from driving after committing a string of crimes.

Magistrate Peter Smid said the man, 21, had little criminal history but had “hit the ground running”, racking up five serious offences in a short period of time.

The man pleaded guilty in Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday to two breaches of a domestic violence order against his ex- partner, from November 20 and December 19 last year. He cannot be named to protect the victim’s identity.

On December 14 last year, assaulted the woman, pushing and grabbing her shirt.

The man was caught drink driving on February 26 this year and obstructed police during his arrest.

Defence barrister Scott Geeves he her said the man had an “unsettled period” late last year and early this year, which was linked to the care of his daughter. He said the man now had full- time care of the child.

Mr Smid asked what the army, where the man had worked for nearly four years, would do about the man’s offending.

“That’s in the balance, that’s a matter for his chain of command,” Mr Geeves said.

He tendered character references which spoke “very highly” of the man.

“He acted in a way that was totally unacceptable but apparently out of character for him,” Mr Geeves said.

As the obstruct police charge was committed while the man was drunk, he faced a mandatory community service order.

The man was fined $ 1150, disqualified from driving for three months and ordered to perform 40 hours of community service.