Mum-to-be’s brutal ordeal

Attacker may be free next year

Burgess messaged the woman saying he would like to “cave her head in and bury her”

A VIOLENT Tasmanian ice addict who bashed a heavily pregnant woman, threatening to “cave her head in and bury her”, could be out of jail in just over a year.

Wade Richard Burgess, 24, was on bail for trafficking drugs when he repeatedly bashed the woman during a terrifying six-month ordeal from late 2017.

But despite his “appalling” conduct being denounced as “domineering, brutal, vicious, spiteful and cowardly”, Burgess will be eligible for parole in fewer than 13 months.

His victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, would curl into a ball when Burgess bashed her, in a bid to protect her unborn child during the repeated beatings.

On one occasion, Burgess messaged the woman saying he would like to cave her head in and bury her, and that he would tie a bone around her neck because “the dog would give her attention”.

During the “regular weekly” drug-fuelled assaults, the jealous Burgess forced the woman from bed, stood over her, kicked her head, punched her face, then spat on her.

He also kicked the woman’s stomach.

In another instance he put a cardboard container over her head, telling her she only looked good in a box, before kicking and punching her head, spitting on her, and threatening to “blow her brains out”.

Burgess also used a blow torch to incinerate a bassinet and clothing for the unborn child.

He was finally arrested when the woman was about 28 weeks’ pregnant, but denied being physically abusive, suggesting the victim’s injuries were self-inflicted.

Burgess was due to face trial two weeks ago, but pleaded guilty to violence charges the morning his trial was scheduled to begin.

“She said she felt like she wanted to die and hated her life,” Supreme Court Justice David Porter said of the victim while sentencing Burgess on Monday.

“She was worried about what would happen to the unborn child.”

The woman’s child has since been safely delivered.

Burgess was jailed for three years and six months, commencing January 16 this year, but will be eligible for parole after half that term.