Chef choked wife-to-be

A GOLD Coast chef choked his now former fiancee, grabbed her mother by the neck and squeezed their dog because they tried to stop him taking his motorbike out in the midst of a bender for this 30th birthday.

The man, who legally cannot be named, pleaded guilty in Southport District Court to one count each of choking and assaulting a person over 60.

He has been in custody since July 7 last year but yesterday walked free to move to Melbourne where authorities will not be able to track him.

Crown prosecutor Michael Mitchell said the attack started when the man’s fiancee refused to give him his motorbike keys because he was drunk about 11pm on July 5.

On her refusal, he damaged his partner’s car and his motorbike before grabbing their dog and squeezing it around the middle.

The man then lashed out at his partner’s mother and grabbed her around the neck.

His fiancee intervened and he grabbed her by the throat with one hand before letting go of the mother.

“He shoved (his partner) into the wall and squeezed her neck for 30 seconds and she stated she could not breathe,” Mr Mitchell said.

The man then dropped his partner and left the house.

His partner tried to follow but fell over and hit her head.

Mr Mitchell said the man was detained by friends outside the home until police arrived.

The woman has since broken off her relationship with the man.

Defence barrister Bernard Reilly, instructed by Brooke Winter Solicitors, said his client was so intoxicated he did not remember the events of the night.

Mr Reilly said the man had written a letter of apology to his ex-fiancee and her mother.

“He has regretted this behaviour ever since it occurred,” he said.

Mr Reilly said the man had plans to move to Melbourne to work as a forklift driver.

Judge David Kent said the man’s level of intoxication was an “explanation” for the events rather than an excuse.

“You have seemed to have acknowledged you have a problem with alcohol,” he said.

Mr Kent imposed a head sentence of 18 months in jail.

The sentence was suspended yesterday after the man had served 231 days in pre-sentence custody.

The release and the man’s plans to return to Victoria mean there is no way for police to track his criminal history.

Gold Coast Centre against Sexual Violence spokeswoman Di Macleod said there was still work to be done when it came to tracking domestic violence across borders.

“With some of these guys, the borders are protecting the offenders rather than the victims,” she said.