Leith Coleman jailed for breaking into ex-partner’s house and violently attacking her

Fuelled by drugs and alcohol, a man smashed the window of his ex’s house, dived through it and choked her until she couldn’t breathe before chasing her outside.

A man who broke into his ex-partner’s house by smashing a window before violently attacking her didn’t stop even after she ran for help.

Leith Michael William Coleman, 31, was told he needs to get off the drugs and turn his life around after his vicious assault.

The Adelaide District Court on Tuesday heard Coleman met the victim in 2017 and was in a relationship with her for two years.

“You and the complainant would use methamphetamine together and this would cause you to become angry and paranoid and you took your anger out on the complainant,” Judge Paul Slattery said during sentencing.

The victim ended the relationship.

She was at her home address in Whyalla Norrie when Coleman knocked on the front door on November 4, 2020.

The victim refused to let him in.

“You then smashed the lounge room window and dove through it,” Judge Slattery said.

“You punched the complainant in the mouth, splitting her lip open.”

Coleman then punched her to the head.

“You took hold of the complainant’s throat with both hands and choked her for about 30 seconds,” Judge Slattery said.

“She told you to stop because she couldn’t breathe.”

The victim ran outside and started screaming for help after Coleman told her he was going to kill her.

Coleman chased the victim outside, where her neighbours tried to intervene.

“You grabbed her hair and swung her to the ground,” Judge Slattery said.

Coleman, of Whyalla Stuart, had previously pleaded guilty to serious criminal trespass and multiple counts of assault.

Leith Coleman was jailed for assault and serious criminal trespass. Picture: Facebook

The court heard Coleman was born in Ceduna but moved to Whyalla in his teenage years.

“You played football for awhile and showed some promise,” Judge Slattery said.

Coleman began abusing alcohol and drugs from an early age.

“On the night of the offending you had consumed Suboxone, alcohol and methamphetamine prior to going to the complainant’s home,” Judge Slattery said.

Coleman, who has never been employed, has a lengthy criminal history, including rape.

The court heard the victim suffers ongoing distress from the incident.

“Parliament recognises that domestic violence is one of the most urgent social needs in our society and it has led to terrible injuries and consequences,” Judge Slattery said.

Judge Slattery sentenced Coleman to three years and seven months jail, with a non-parole period of 18-months.

“As a result of your drug use you have isolated yourself from your family and your community,” he said.

“In order to re-establish those connections you must commit to turning your life around.”

The court heard Coleman has plans to undertake rehabilitation programs once released from custody.

The sentence was backdated to February 22, 2021.