Steven Butler charged with dousing his partner with petrol, hitting her with a baseball bat

A woman is “terrified for her life” after her partner allegedly assaulted her in horrific ways, including dousing her in petrol and holding a lighter near her and bashing her with a bat.

A man will remain in custody after police say he had to be tackled to the ground for allegedly dousing his partner in petrol and holding a lighter near her.

Steven Shaun Butler, 31, applied for home detention bail by video link from custody in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, after allegedly committing a series of horrific domestic violence incidents.

A prosecutor opposed the bail application, saying the alleged victim feared for her life.

The court heard Butler and his partner had gotten into an argument at Salisbury North in April, 2018.

“She alleges that he punched her in the stomach,” the prosecutor said.

“He then grabbed a 20L jerry can from the shed and poured petrol over her car and then poured it over her head, wetting her hair and clothes.

“He then approached her with a lighter about 1m away when a friend who was home tackled him.”

The court heard police attended but the alleged victim told them it had just been a verbal argument because “she was terrified for her life”.

The court was told Butler had also allegedly assaulted his partner in January, last year by grabbing her around the throat and pushing her into a door.

The court heard Butler allegedly assaulted her again on July 8 at Hillbank.

“She was sleeping in bed, woke up and the defendant was standing over her with a baseball bat as if he was about to swing at her,” the prosecutor said.

“She says he struck her several times with the baseball bat.”

The court heard Butler then allegedly locked his partner in the house but she climbed over the back fence and rang police from a neighbour’s house.

“The defendant has also allegedly told the victim that he’s attempting to locate a gun, she’s in fear that he will kill her and her family,” the prosecutor said.

The court heard Butler had a significant criminal history of violence.

Steven Butler was denied bail in the Adelaide Magistrates Court. Photo: File

Butler, of Hillbank, is charged with multiple offences, including endangering life and assault. He is yet to enter any pleas.

Caroline Tassone, for Butler, told the court Butler and the alleged victim had children together.

“Mr Butler has been talking to a new partner, that’s what has flared all of this up,” she said.

Ms Tassone told the court Butler had work waiting for him if released from custody.

“He was previously an asset to the company,” she said.

“He has been in custody for some time.”

Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal refused Butler bail, due to the seriousness of the allegations and the need to protect the alleged victim.

The charges were adjourned until October.