Woman’s thumb nearly amputated in attack by former partner, Dallas Gordon James Harold, 35, court told

A Coen woman’s thumb had to be surgically reattached after her partner slashed at her with a large knife in their bedroom, just weeks after he hit her to the head with a shovel, a Cairns Court has been told.

Dallas Gordon James Harold, 35, pleaded guilty in Cairns District Court to a number of charges related to ‘gruesome’ violence against his then-partner, including grievous bodily harm. Picture: Brendan Radke

A Coen man who nearly cut off his partner’s thumb as he slashed at her with a large knife in an “unprovoked” attack in their home has been sentenced to 4.5 years jail.

Dallas Gordon James Harold, 35, from Coen, pleaded guilty in Cairns District Court to four charges - two of common assault, assault occasioning bodily harm while armed, and grievous bodily harm over an escalating series of attacks on his then-partner.

Over three to four weeks, Harold punched the woman repeatedly and assaulted her with a spatula, a shovel to the head, then a 20-30cm knife.

Judge Joshua Trevino KC described the injuries to Harold’s partner’s from the knife attack in their bedroom as “gruesome in the extreme”.

“It was an intentional, unprovoked and unjustified attack against a vulnerable woman with a knife in the sanctity of her own bedroom — a place where she should have felt safe,” said Judge Trevino.

“It is a very serious example of grievous bodily harm.”

Prosecutor Abi Juniper told the court the woman was trying to defend herself with her hand when Harold sliced through the woman’s finger bones and tendons, nearly amputating it.

The victim raised her hand to defend herself against Harold, 35, when he slashed at her with a knife in her home in Coen.

She was treated initially at Coen but transported to Cairns Hospital where surgeons worked to re-attach her thumb, the court was told.

The surgery was successful but it is unclear whether the woman will gain full movement of her thumb, the court was told.

Ms Juniper said Harold had been in a relationship with the woman for around a year.

Harold’s violence against his partner had been escalating in the weeks before the knifing, she said.

On one occasion he woke his partner as she slept in her bed, made accusations, and hit her repeatedly to the head with a spatula. He also punched her to the face and back.

A few weeks later, he hit her to the head with a shovel, splitting her scalp.

In the February 10 attack, Harold had threatened to kill this then-partner as he came into their bedroom with a large knife, slashing it towards her.

Defence barrister Aaron Dunkerton said Harold had been drinking alcohol before each assault, and had sought help and counselling while in prison on remand.

He said he intended to return to Coen when he was released from prison and had work lined up.

Mr Dunkerton told the court there had been mutual violence between the couple in the assault involving the shovel.

Judge Trevino acknowledged Harold’s guilty pleas and prospects of rehabilitation in setting the head sentence of 4.5 years with a parole eligibility date of August 10, 2025. The time Harold had already served on remand - almost one year - was taken as time served.

“There can be no doubt that a message must be sent to you and to other men who think they can behave this way towards their partners,” Judge Trevino said.

Originally published as Woman’s thumb nearly amputated in attack by former partner, Dallas Gordon James Harold, 35, court told