James Crane pleads guilty to assault, choking, stalking

A violent pensioner tried to call, text and email his ex girlfriend more than 400 times after she tried to get away from him.

James Crane appeared in the Bundaberg District Court.

A Mackay man has walked away from a Bundaberg court after it was told he stalked an ex-girlfriend after punching her and choking her for not following his driving instructions.

James Crane, 35, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault, one count of strangulation and one count of stalking in the Bundaberg District Court on Thursday, April 20.

Man feared dead after horror motorcycle, car crash

The court heard Crane had a “dreadful” history of assault and other violent offences, including domestic violence.

Crown prosecutor Carla Ahern said Crane had a history of unhealthy relationships and had threatened several previous partners.

‘Crisis levels’: Explosive poll reveals fears of surge in suburban youth crime

She told the court he had been driving through town on December 22, 2021 with his then partner when she started “going the wrong way”.

“When they stopped at the traffic lights, he punched her in the head,” Mrs Ahern told the court.

The court heard Crane then leaned over and choked her, before relaxing his hand and tightening it again restricting her breathing.

The court heard the woman went to the police station following the incident and obtained a protection order.

Crane ignored the order, however, and over the next 24 days, tried to call, text and email the woman 407 times.

In one day, March 14, 2022, the court heard Crane tried to make contact 378 times in a move the Judge Paul Smith called “childish”.

The court heard the woman became “fearful” of Crane due to the text messages, which included threats to burn down her home.

When he was arrested, Crane participated in an interview with police, but denied sending the texts, claiming his phone had been “stolen.”

The court heard Crane had been subjected to sexual abuse at a young age and had relied on drugs and alcohol to soothe his inner turmoil.

He was now on a disability pension due a number of mental health issues, including bipolar disorder and PTSD.

The court heard Crane had been living in a boarding lodge and was concerned by the level of drugs present and hoped to take advantage of an employment opportunity to find other housing.

Mr Smith accepted the submissions and said he did not see “much utility in putting him in jail,” despite the “dreadful” texts sent to the victim and his history of “persistent violence.”

He encouraged Crane to continue his rehabilitation efforts if only for his son.

On the stalking charge Crane was sentenced to two years four months jail, suspended.

For the assault and suffocation charges he was sentenced to three months jail and 16 months jail served concurrently with immediate release on parole.

Convictions were recorded on all charges.