Jason Bowran sentenced for choking, slapping partner in domestic violence attack

A former long-serving ADF member “acted out of character” when he choked and slapped his partner in a shocking domestic violence incident, a court has heard.

Jason Andrew Bowran, 51, was found guilty of four domestic violence charges. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A former long-serving member of the Australian Defence Force “acted out of character” when he choked his partner in a shocking domestic violence incident, a court has heard.

Jason Andrew Bowran, 51, was sentenced to serve a jail term in the community after he was found guilty of four domestic violence charges in Sutherland Local Court.

Bowran pleaded not guilty at a hearing, however Magistrate Hugh Donnelly said he accepted the woman’s version of events.

The court heard Bowran was at his Kirrawee home on the evening of May 14 last year when he pushed his partner with two hands and slapped her on the face, knocking out one of her earrings.

The woman said she fled to the bathroom where she called a family member on FaceTime.

Bowran was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court.

Bowran then pushed a roller door off its hinges before he grabbed his partner on the shoulders and pushed her onto a bed.

Bowran put his hands around the woman’s throat and she said she couldn’t breathe and told him to get off her.

The woman fought back and forced him off using her hands and feet before she grabbed her keys from the lounge room and fled the home.

At one point during the altercation, Bowran got the woman’s phone and broke it.

He was charged with intentionally choking another person without consent, common assault, damaging property and contravening an apprehended domestic violence order.

In court this week, Bowran’s lawyer submitted the incident was for a “short time”, had no planning and resulted in no injury to the woman, adding his client assisted her to leave the premises.

Mr Donnelly labelled the violence as “vicious and nasty offences committed against a woman in a space where she could have expected to feel safe”.

The court also heard Bowran had a criminal history but not for domestic violence offences.

Mr Donnelly said Bowran’s character references, which included one from a police domestic violence liaison officer, said he had “clearly acted out of character” and had otherwise a “high standing in the community”.

Mr Donnelly said the references described Bowran as a “compassionate, courteous person” who had served his country in the Australian Defence Force for 24 years.

He also noted Bowran had sought treatment with a psychologist which he planned to continue.

Bowran was sentenced to a 12-month intensive correction order and community correction order as well as fined $900. He must also complete 100 hours of community service.

An AVO protecting the woman was also put in place for two years.

Originally published as Jason Bowran sentenced for choking, slapping partner in domestic violence attack