Andrew Glenn Hovington in court for slashing throat, biting nipple

After being placed in emergency housing with his family, a former labourer showed his gratitude by causing a confrontation in which he bit the nipple of the complex manager before slashing his throat.

Andrew Glenn Hovington, 37, pleaded guilty to going armed so as to cause fear, serious assault and unlawful wounding when he faced Hervey Bay District Court on Monday.

A knife-wielding man who had just been placed in emergency housing with his family bit the accommodation manager’s nipple before slashing his throat, a court has heard.

Andrew Glenn Hovington, 37, pleaded guilty to going armed so as to cause fear, serious assault and unlawful wounding when he faced Hervey Bay District Court on Monday.

Hovington’s serious criminal history, which involved an incident in Glenorchy, Tasmania, in which he and a co-offender robbed four teenagers in a car in 2007, was also mentioned in the court.

During that incident, the two men approached the car and Hovington fired a sawn-off rifle at its windscreen, the bullet ricocheting off the window before they took $25 off the teenagers.

Andrew Glenn Hovington, 37, pleaded guilty to going armed so as to cause fear, serious assault and unlawful wounding when he faced Hervey Bay District Court on Monday.

The latest incident occurred on February 1, 2024, when Hovington and his family were given emergency housing with an accommodation provider in Urangan.

The manager of the complex approached Hovington after he began playing loud music.

Hovington confronted the manager, headbutted him and made his nose bleed, the court was told.

He then grabbed the older man and dragged him to the ground, punching him and biting his nipple, causing an abrasion,.

Hovington then produced the knife and lashed out with it, leaving a 2.5cm wound on the left side of the manager’s neck, which required stitching.

There was a struggle and police arrived shortly thereafter.

Hovington dropped his weight when he was arrested and had to be carried to the vehicle by police before he started to act in a “bizarre manner”, including growling and barking, the court heard.

A victim impact statement from the 64-year-old complex manager was submitted to the court.

Defence barrister Phillip Hardcastle said it seemed his client should not drink spirits, because he “obviously can’t handle it”.

Mr Hardcastle said there had been some suggestion Hovington could have schizophrenia, but he did not have the medical evidence to support that diagnosis.

He said Hovington had been born in Tasmania and his parents were divorced.

He was the father of three children Mr Hardcastle said, including two daughters he shared with his current partner.

Mr Hardcastle said Hovington had previously done some work as a labourer but it was accepted he had a poor work history.

Mr Hardcastle asked that the court consider giving Hovington early parole because of his early guilty plea, but Judge William Everson said the man had slashed a man’s throat and was making no contribution to the community.

Judge Everson said the man’s criminal history was also against him.

“He shot a windscreen of a car with four people in it,” he said.

“Now he’s slashed a bloke’s throat who’s 64.”

Judge Everson said Hovington had been given accommodation through community housing at an accommodation provider in Urangan.

“You immediately started playing loud noise, which disturbed occupants of the caravan park, including the next door neighbours, the manager and his wife.”

The manager had called police, Judge Everson said, and Hovington was asked to turn down the music, which “seemed to make you very angry”.

Hovington approached the manager waving a knife around and asking “do you have a problem?” and “can I go to bed?”

Hovington became increasingly aggressive and then attacked the other man, struggling on the ground with him and then biting him on his left nipple.

He then slashed his throat under his left ear with the knife, Judge Everson said, before police arrived.

Judge Everson said the man was taken to hospital where he was treated for a 2.5cm cut to his neck and other abrasions.

“All he was doing was his job,” he said.

He said the manager had suffered psychologically as a result of the incident.

Rather than being grateful for the emergency housing, Hovington’s behaviour had been appalling, the Judge said.

Hovington was given a head sentence of three years in prison.

A parole release date was set for January 31, 2025.

The 200 days Hovington had spent in prison were declared as time served.

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