Veronica Valmay Johnson pleads guilty to Sugarland car park confrontation

A Bundaberg woman has faced court after a confrontation with her ex in a popular shopping centre which ended with his phone smashed to pieces.

Veronica Valmay Johnson, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of contravention of a domestic violence order (aggravated offence) and one count of wilful damage, a domestic violence order.

A Bundaberg mother of five has been ordered to compensate her ex-partner for a $700 phone she smashed when he recorded a tirade of abuse from her at a popular shopping centre.

Veronica Valmay Johnson, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of contravention of a domestic violence order (aggravated offence) and one count of wilful damage, a domestic violence order.

The charges were laid following the August incident, where Johnson confronted her former partner, damaging his phone and discarding his heart medication during an altercation in a car park.

Police prosecutor Leon Casey told the court of the incident happened when the victim took his son to the Sugarland chemist to buy heart medication.

Upon returning to his vehicle in the carpark Johnson blocked his car from driving away, the court heard.

“There was verbal abuse between the victim and Johnson,” Sgt Casey said.

Johnson took the victim’s heart medication, tearing up the packet and discarding the medication.

“She was also swearing and yelling obscenities at him.” Sgt Casey said.

When the victim filmed the incident, Johnson smashed his iPhone, destroying it.

The charges were laid following the August incident, where Johnson confronted her former partner, damaging his phone and discarding his heart medication during an altercation in a car park.

Johnson’s defence lawyer told the court Johnson had five children and was changing her behaviour, due to what was described as controlling and destructive tendencies.

He said Johnson and the victim had been in an on-and-off relationship for nine years.

The court heard Johnson had recently loaned the victim $2100, which led to the argument when he offered to repay only $1000.

“Because it was my kid’s birthday, I didn’t even have $10 for my kid’s birthday,” Johnson said.

The court heard that Johnson is seeing psychologists and believes the relationship is over, although they will continue to interact for the shared care of their three-year-old.

Johnson was willing to compensate the victim for the damaged phone valued about $700, the court was told.

Magistrate John McInnes acknowledged Johnson had taken steps towards rehabilitation independently.

“The one thing that does turn against you is that this only happened a few months after you were fined for a similar offence,” Magistrate McInnes said.

“The similar offence was that he gave me a black eye, so I retaliated and smashed his window, but I didn’t report it,” Johnson said.

Magistrate McInnes noted that Johnson was not a regular before the court and expressed “some” confidence in her rehabilitation.

He ordered that the victim’s debt to Johnson be reduced by $700 to account for the destroyed phone.

When Johnson interrupted to justify her actions, saying she smashed his phone because he was recording her, Mr McInnes said “there’s no law against [recording someone] in Queensland”.

Johnson was placed on a recognisance sum of $1000, requiring her to keep the peace and demonstrate good behaviour for nine months.
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