Craig McCarthy jailed for appalling domestic violence attacks on partner of eight years

A woman thought she was going to die at the hands of her long term partner when the timber mill worker pinned her down and choked her in a horrifying assault.

A woman remains traumatised after her long term partner’s violent attack, where she was pinned down and bashed.

Craig William McCarthy, 50, was addicted to methamphetamine when he committed his appalling domestic violence attacks.

The Adelaide District Court heard the victim was McCarthy’s partner of eight years.

“Regrettably it would seem this relationship was punctuated with violence,” Judge Anthony Allen said during sentencing.

The court heard the victim opened the fridge on April 15, 2019 and McCarthy kicked the fridge door so it swung forward and hit her in the chin.

The next incident on September 10, 2019 at Woodville Gardens involved McCarthy and the victim getting into an argument, which escalated into him pinning her down on the couch.

“At this time you used both hands to grab her throat, wrapping your hands around her neck and pressing down against her windpipe causing her to struggle and gasp for air,” Judge Allen said.

The court heard McCarthy removed his grip after one minute and began pulling her hair and slapping her to the face.

The victim suffered soreness to her forehead, scalp, neck and right eye.

“Unsurprisingly the victim states she was terrified throughout this ordeal,” Judge Allen said.

“(The victim) is embarrassed for not having left you earlier and is degraded by what you did to her.

“She thought she was going to die.”

McCarthy pleaded guilty to multiple counts of assault.

Craig McCarthy was jailed for domestic violence attacks on his partner. Picture: File

The court heard McCarthy, who was raised in Mount Gambier, had previously worked in the local timber mills.

The court heard McCarthy became addicted to methamphetamine in his late thirties.

“It would seem this terrible drug had a detrimental impact on your relationship with the victim in this matter,” Judge Allen said.

“Perhaps unsurprisingly methamphetamine has a direct role to play in the offending that brings you before me today.”

The court heard McCarthy could work at his sister’s Port MacDonnell fish and chip shop once released from custody.

Judge Allen sentenced McCarthy to two years and 10 months jail, with a non-parole period of 20 months.

“Your victim was clearly terrified and she remains traumatised,” he said.

“She was entitled to feel safe in her own home.”

The sentence was backdated to September 12, 2019, meaning McCarthy is eligible for parole.