Craig David Gleeson pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm

Pushed from a car on the Bruce Hwy and desperately trying to outrun her ex-ADF attacker, a woman was repeatedly assaulted on the roadside in front of shocked drivers. *Distressing.

Craig David Gleeson pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court this week.

An army veteran who pushed his then partner out of a car on the Bruce Hwy before chasing and viciously attacking her on the roadside has avoided jail because his actions were “out of character”.

Craig David Gleeson pleaded guilty in Maryborough Magistrates Court to assault occasioning bodily harm.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Balam Selvadurai said on September 22, 2023, police were called to an urgent job on the Bruce Hwy at Gympie where a woman was reporting being assaulted.

When officers arrived, the distressed woman told police she had been travelling back towards Maryborough in a car with Gleeson when a physical altercation took place, Sgt Selvadurai said.

The woman told police Gleeson had poured a bottle of wine over her and called her an alcoholic before pushed her out of the vehicle, which was parked by the side of the road.

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Sgt Selvadurai said the woman had tried to run but was tackled by Gleeson, who struck her face with a closed fist numerous times, causing injury.

The woman was taken to the Gympie Police Station where temporary accommodation was sought.

A witness to the incident said he was driving past the vehicle when he saw Gleeson throw the woman against a wire fence numerous times.

Craig David Gleeson pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court this week.

The witness turned around to provide assistance to the woman and wait until police arrived.

Gleeson was found by police on January 4 and during an interview he admitted he had made physical contact with the woman but said it was “in self-defence” and denied throwing the woman to the ground, Sgt Selvadurai said.

The court heard Gleeson was 51 and had five adult children.

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A veteran receiving a pension for his service he suffered from PTSD and was remorseful for his actions.

The court heard the toxic relationship with his former partner had ended and there was no intention of resuming the relationship, the assault was “out of character” and Gleeson was unlikely to reoffend.

Magistrate John Milburn said Gleeson had pursued the woman and punched her after pushing her out of the vehicle.

But he said he accepted Gleeson’s behaviour was out of character given his contribution to the community.

“I mention contribution given your service to our nation and the concerns that have been raised in terms of your PTSD,” Mr Milburn said.

He said he regarded the offending as “particularly serious” given Gleeson had struck the woman and demonstrated “profound disrespect” by pouring wine over her.

Gleeson was sentenced to two months in prison, suspended for an operational period of nine months.

He was also fined $1000.

A conviction was recorded.