Jake Ledain refused bail a second time over assault, gun charges

A roofer accused of throwing a woman to the ground, pointing a sawn-off air rifle and telling her he was “going to kill her” has fronted court.

Jake Ledain.

A roofer who allegedly punched and suffocated a woman he is also accused of threatening with a sawn-off air rifle has been denied bail for a second time.

Jake Ledain, 28, appeared in Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday, facing 26 charges including making threats to kill, reckless conduct endangering life, aggravated assault of a female, possessing a firearm as a prohibited person and bail offences.

Police allege that on November 28, 2023, Mr Ledain grabbed a woman from behind, placing his hands over her mouth and nose and allegedly suffocating her for 30 seconds.

The woman is alleged to have feared for her life.

During the altercation, Mr Ledain is accused of throwing the woman to the ground, retrieving a sawn-off air rifle and pointing it 20cm from her head and allegedly telling her he was “going to kill her”.

The woman screamed for help but she was kicked in the stomach and shin and punched in the face, the court heard, before Mr Ledain again allegedly covered her nose and mouth.

Mr Ledain previously applied for bail in February, but was refused, the court was told.

Mr Ledain’s lawyer, Matilda Jones, told the court the alleged victim had since made a statement of no complaint, and said the prosecution was going to have “significant difficulty” in proving the charges given the woman was the key witness.

Magistrate Urfa Masood noted it was “not a complete retraction” and the woman “doesn’t retract that there was a gun present in the incident”.

Ms Jones said difficulties may arise in relation to the firearm, and it’s “ability to cause significant harm may come into issue” as it was an air rifle, and not a real firearm.

“It has the capability to shoot … (but) it’s unlikely to place (the alleged victim) in danger of death or serious injury,” Ms Jones told the court.

Ms Jones told the court that Mr Ledain now had a stable place to stay, and was now in a position to comply with bail conditions.

“Living in an environment that is stable and supportive …(Mr Ledain) simply wouldn’t have an excuse not to engage,” Ms Jones said.

Mr Ledain’s mother testified that she would be willing to have her son stay with her while he was on bail.

The court heard he had been living with his mother in the Geelong region when he was arrested in February.

Mr Ledain has had “significant issues” with drugs in the past, but his mother told the court her attitude towards drugs under her roof was “absolutely not”.

She said she would feel comfortable calling the police if she discovered he was using any illicit substance.

Magistrate Urfa Masood told the court that Mr Ledain had failed to meet the threshold of exceptional circumstances, and denied him bail.

“It is serious offending, it is offending that would warrant a significant term of offending in the case of a conviction,” she said.

Originally published as Jake Ledain refused bail a second time over assault, gun charges