Lachlan Wayne St Clair jailed for two years for domestic violence charges including choking his partner

This man’s attacks on his ex ended only when police entered their house and found a “scene of carnage” – but he’s already eligible for parole.

A “possessive” man who placed his partner under surveillance to ensure she wouldn’t go to the police after he held a pillow over face and said he would strangle her to death has been jailed.

Lachlan Wayne St Clair, 40, was charged with multiple counts of assault, property damage and unlawfully choking as part of a “tempestuous domestic relationship”.

District Court Judge Anthony Allen said St Clair’s offending had left his victim traumatised and suffering long-term adverse impacts.

St Clair and his victim had been dating in November 2016 before the woman cut off all ties because he was “becoming overly possessive”.

They reconnected in August 2018 and were living in the southern suburbs when St Clair begun assaulting the victim.

Lachlan St Clair has been sentenced for serious domestic violence against his partner. Picture: Facebook.

On December 1, 2019, St Clair placed the victim in a headlock after a conversation about their relationship turned violent.

He placed a hand over her mouth and told her he would strangle her to death.

St Clair pushed the victim on to a bed and forced her face into the quilt before holding a pillow over her face.

“Following the incident you effectively kept the victim under surveillance to ensure that she did not make contact with police in relation to what had just occurred,” Judge Allen said.

On June 2020, St Clair again assaulted the victim, this time in front of her infant child.

Judge Allen said St Clair had punched multiple holes in the walls, smashed a light switch and crushed the victim’s phone in his hand.

Lachlan St Clair has been sentenced for serious domestic violence against his partner. Picture: Facebook.

He grabbed the victim by the hair and dragged her down the stairs.

“Every time the victim screamed for help, you would slam, strangle or force her to the ground,” Judge Allen said.

When the victim was face down on the floor St Clair grabbed the victim by the neck and choked her, stating a number of times he was going to kill her.

The assault only came to an end when police entered the property and observed a “scene of carnage” and heard the victim crying and saying she couldn’t breathe.

St Clair was arrested and has remained in custody since then.

He maintained his not-guilty plea until shortly before his trial when he pleaded guilty.

“These attacks on your former partner must have been terrifying for her and the law must protect victims from violent attacks such as this,” Judge Allen said.

St Clair was sentenced to two years, four months and 16 days in prison with a non-parole period of 20 months.

With time already served St Clair is now eligible for parole.