Man faces Hervey Bay Magistrates Court for breaching domestic violence order

He wasn’t allowed within 50m of his former partner’s home but police discovered him hiding under a blanket.

The man was found hiding under a blanket.

A man was found hiding under a blanket at a Fraser Coast home when police were informed he was at the home of his former partner, whose residence he was forbidden from going within 50m of according to a domestic violence order.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to one count of breaching a domestic violence order when he faced the Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Thursday.

In July 2024, police received a call from an informant relating to a possible breach of a domestic violence order, police prosecutor Louise McConnell said.

Police arrived at the home and were informed by a person at the residence that the man was inside.

The officers then spoke to the former partner who told them the man was not in the room.

But when the officers went into the room they saw the man pulling a blanket over his head, Ms McConnell said.

Police informed the man that he had been seen and asked that he uncover himself.

He was arrested and transported to the watch-house.

The man told officers he had gone to the home after he received a message from her requesting help with groceries and with help moving furniture.

Defence lawyer Virginia Ukpabi said the breach was at the lower end of seriousness as there was no allegations of any violence and he had been invited into the home.

He had been homeless at the time and had nowhere else to go, she said.

The two were attempting to vary the court order, Ms Ukpabi said.

She said the man had since completed two men’s behavioural change program sessions.

Magistrate John Milburn said it had been an early plea of guilty.

The man was fined $800 and a conviction was recorded.

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