Birthday bungle

Dad breaches DVO delivering present to son at school

A GRANITE Belt dad was once again back in court after he breached a domestic violence order by delivering a birthday present to his child at school.

Police prosecutor Ken Wiggan told the Stanthorpe Magistrates Court that the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, drove to his son’s school on May 26.

“(He) walked into the school, then got back into his car and drove off. (He) wanted to drop off a present to his son and had received verbal permission (from the school) to enter,” he said.

Sergeant Wiggan said the present delivery was a breach of the 33-year-old’s DVO conditions, which banned him from going within 100m of his child’s school.

“(He) thought the verbal permission was sufficient and was frustrated that he hadn’t been able to communicate with his son for some time,” he said.

Defence lawyer Phillip Crook told the court the mother of the child blocked all communication from his client, including calls, emails and texts.

Magistrate Julian Noud described the man’s offending as serious and concerning.

“That offence is concerning as it happens at a point in time very soon after you had been dealt with by (another) magistrates court … for numerous breaches of the DVO,” he said.

“It’s apparent that he is in need of correction and there tends to be some attitude problems.

“Perpetrators of domestic violence target their victims by seeking to exercise power or control over them.”

The man pleaded guilty to one count of contravening a domestic violence order in an aggravated offence and one count of breaching bail. He was placed on probation for 12 months and fined $350.