Joshua Sean Bayliss faces Bundaberg Court for assault after drunkenly biting his ex-girlfriend and her grandad in violent scuffle

A court has heard how a woman woke in the middle of the night to find the man she had earlier broken up with inside her house in a “grossly intoxicated” state. Things only got worse from there.

Joshua Sean Bayliss pleaded guilty to three offences in Bundaberg Magistrates Court.

A man has faced court after a messy break up took a turn for the worse when he showed up at his ex-girlfriend’s home in the early hours of the morning while “grossly intoxicated”.

Joshua Sean Bayliss, 22, pleaded guilty in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Thursday to one count of serious assault of a person over 60, assault occasioning bodily harm as a domestic violence offence and obstructing police.

Just before 3am on January 13 the victim was asleep in her home when she was woken by the sound of the door closing.

When she woke she saw Bayliss, who was her ex boyfriend, in her room where he started asking for some of his jewellery back.

The victim told Bayliss to leave and they began arguing, which woke up the victim’s grandfather who was asleep in another room.

Bayliss was then “forcibly removed” from the home where things deteriorated outside with the defendant and the grandfather becoming involved in a physical altercation.

During the struggle the older man managed to put him in a headlock before Bayliss bit him on the hand, causing lacerations to his finger.

The grandfather also sustained cuts to his knee and head.

Bayliss’ ex girlfriend meanwhile went to help her grandfather and was bitten on the forearm.

Bayliss left the scene as police arrived but was found during patrols of the area.

He was taken to the Bundaberg Watch House where he passed out from being “grossly intoxicated”.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Grant Klaassen told the court Bayliss spent one night in custody for the offence when he was arrested.

Sergeant Klaassen said Bayliss had bodily harm offences in his criminal history, which included an incident from October 2019 which was dealt with in February last year, where he had received nine months imprisonment with immediate parole.

“It’s concerning for a man of his young age to have a history of violence,” he said.

Sergeant Klaassen submitted to the court a period of imprisonment was within range, but was in the hands of the court whether Bayliss would spend actual time in custody.

Bayliss’ lawyer, barrister Craig Ryan, told the court the relationship between Bayliss and his ex had only ended the afternoon prior to the incident.

Mr Ryan said after the break-up and conversation between the pair Bayliss went home and began drinking heavily and decided at 2am to go and get his things back.

He said Bayliss understood it was “completely inappropriate behaviour”.

Mr Ryan said Bayliss was voluntarily leaving and being pushed out a gate when he stumbled, turned and flung his arm up before the physical altercation ensued.

He said Bayliss began struggling to breathe and bit the finger of his ex’s grandfather to get him to let go.

Mr Ryan said Bayliss didn’t recall biting his former partner, but accepted the facts as he was heavily intoxicated.

The court heard Bayliss was not drinking anymore and had moved to Brisbane to avoid seeing his former partner around town and obtained work.

Magistrate Andrew Moloney took into account Bayliss’ plea of guilty when deciding his sentence.

Mr Moloney said a common theme in Bayliss’ current and previous offending was alcohol.

“You sound like one of those persons in our community where alcohol is not for you,” he said.

“You lose your self control and you’re acting out in ways which you would not if you are sober, but it’s no excuse.

“It was an utterly inappropriate way to try and deal with, what I accept for you is, a grossly upsetting experience.”

Bayliss was sentenced to nine months imprisonment with an immediate parole release.