Serial DV perp paroled
A REPEAT domestic violence offender, who has previously been convicted of kicking his pregnant ex-girlfriend in the stomach, has again faced court, this time for assaulting another former partner during a heated argument.
The dispute broke out between Rowen Craig Howlett and his ex-girlfriend while they were washing a car at the victim’s Chinchilla home on July 16, with the 35-year-old spraying the woman with water from the hose when she tried to walk away from the fight.
Police prosecutor Derek Brady told the Dalby Magistrates Court that Howlett then shoved the woman against the car, and the ongoing argument prompted nearby residents to call the police.
“They could hear a male and female arguing and said there was property being damaged including a vehicle and that he put a hose on the female to wet her as she was trying to get away,” Sergeant Brady said.
“He hosed her down and put (the hose) in her mouth while pushing her against the vehicle.”
The court heard the victim was in her car and looked “distressed and visibly upset” by the time police arrived, but refused to speak with officers and tried to stop them going into the house.
Sergeant Brady said police found Howlett in the bedroom, who when questioned about the argument asked, “What did she say?” and refused to answer further questions.
Howlett was arrested at the scene and taken into custody, where he remained until his court appearance nearly 48 hours later.
The Chinchilla man appeared in court with several domestic violence offences involving different former partners in his criminal history, including hitting an ex in the head in 2018 and kicking his pregnant ex-girlfriend in the stomach in 2014.
Defence lawyer Julia Molloy said her client had been invited to the victim’s home that day to talk about their shared child.
“There was some horsing around, it was a case of they’d gone too far and had an argument,” she said.
Howlett pleaded guilty to one count of common assault.
He was sentenced to six months’ jail with immediate release on parole.