James Donald Southwell jailed for ‘vicious and frenzied’ attack on Smithfield woman

A trespasser viciously bashed a mum in front of her young kids before taking a photo of her bloodied body and fleeing, a court has heard.

A trespasser who unleashed a “vicious and frenzied attack” on a woman in front of her two young children, took a photo of her bloodied body before fleeing, a court has heard.

James Donald Southwell, 39, knocked on the victim’s front door in Smithfield about 8pm on June 20, 2020. Once inside he began a horrifying attack.

He appeared in the District Court where he was jailed after being found guilty of a charge of serious criminal trespass in a place of residence and an aggravated charge of causing harm with intent.

In his reasons for verdict, handed down in an earlier hearing, Judge Anthony Allen said the victim had met Southwell, a long-term methylamphetamine addict, about four years earlier through her drug dealers.

After knocking on the door, he asked for the new phone number of one of the dealers.

But when the victim turned to retrieve the number from her mobile phone Southwell pushed her into the wall and punched her to the face. She fell to the ground.

“What followed was a vicious and frenzied attack upon a defenceless woman in her own home,” Judge Allen said.

Southwell produced an extendible baton and began beating the woman. He also stomped on her and kicked her.

“She had no chance to defend herself,” Judge Allen said.

“While this was happening, her sons were screaming at you to stop. The onslaught stopped when you realised the [children] had run from the front door to seek assistance from a neighbour.

“Prior to you leaving the scene, you pulled out a phone and took a photograph of your victim lying bloodied and battered on the floor of her loungeroom.”

The woman suffered lacerations to her scalp and a fractured maxillary sinus and forearm fracture. She was also treated for swelling and bruising to areas including her spine.

She was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, while Judge Allen said the children were scared and worried about their mum.

He said Southwell had an extensive criminal history, including multiple convictions for assault and another trespass and assault.

Judge Allen told Southwell his life would be “wasted” if he did not remove himself from negative influences.

Judge Allen imposed a six-year jail term, but after deductions for time served and spent on home detention bail and a discount for his guilty pleas he reduced the term to four years and nine months.

The judge set a non-parole period of two years and 10 months.