Hervey Bay man pleads guilty to breaching protection order
The texts he sent to his former partner professed his love for her and apologised for his past behaviour. But the messages were enough to land him in court.
Fraser Coast
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Texting his former partner to apologise for his behaviour and telling her he still had feelings for her landed a Hervey Bay man before court.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to breaching a protection order when he faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court.
The court heard the man’s former partner sent the man text messages requesting he contacting a real estate agency about returning some of their property to the rental home they had shared before their separation.
The woman then turned off her phone.
Under the terms of the order, the man was not allowed to contact the woman.
But he then sent a series of texts regarding health matters and apologies for his actions, as well as telling her he still had “loving feelings” for the woman.
When the woman received the messages the next day, she reported the texts to police.
Defence lawyer Morgan Harris said it was accepted the man responding to the woman not only about what she had raised but the relationship issues as well constituted a breach of the order.
Magistrate Trinity McGarvie said there was no allegation of violence or threatening behaviour, but there was a requirement under the order that the defendant would not contact the woman.
“Those conditions are put in place for a specific purpose,” she said.
“In part they can be put in place to reduce the risk of emotional and psychological abuse and give both parties the opportunity to have respite from the contact that has caused psychological and emotional harm.
“For those reasons, any breach of an order, any breach of a police protection notice is serious.”
Magistrate McGarvie said the man had indicated he was prepared to engage in rehabilitation.
The man was fined $650 and a conviction was recorded.
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