Man pleads guilty to breaching a domestic violence order

A Qld man who headbutted his partner in the face because she would not give him the keys to drive home has claimed there may have been more than alcohol involved, a court has heard.

The man, 32, pleaded guilty to breaching a domestic violence order when he appeared before Maryborough Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

An intoxicated man who headbutted the mother of his children in the face when she would not give him the keys to drive home claims his drink was spiked at the time.

The man, 32, pleaded guilty to breaching a domestic violence order when he appeared before Maryborough Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Police prosecutor Sonia Edwards said at 11.22pm police were called to a disturbance near a Maryborough bridge.

The officers had been told the man was intoxicated and was trying to get the keys of a vehicle.

When police arrived, the man was already gone but the woman was at the scene.

They were told the family had been drinking at a friend’s house Sgt Edwards said.

When they finished they wanted to drive home, but the man started arguing over his partner’s decision to drive.

A fight broke out between them in the car in front as their children watched on and the man smashed the media player in the car, the court heard,

The woman, had parked the car on the side of the road, got out of the car followed shortly after by the 32-year-old.

At some point the woman’s belongings were thrown from the vehicle, Sgt Edwards said.

The man, 32, pleaded guilty to breaching a domestic violence order when he appeared before Maryborough Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

They continued arguing outside the car with the man demanding the keys to drive the vehicle home, Sgt Edwards said.

She refused as she did not want to man to get in trouble for drink driving or to have a crash on the way home, the court heard.

The man then headbutted the woman, connecting with the bridge of her nose and causing bleeding, pain and discomfort, Sgt Edwards said.

The man’s mother also witnessed the incident, the court heard.

He left before police could arrive.

On February 4, the court heard the man was “very sorry” for the incident and said he did not remember much but he did remember assaulting his partner.

Defence lawyer Virginia Ukpabi said the man had been with his partner for a number of years.

The next day, experiencing severe alcohol withdrawal, his parents had helped him to the hospital and a toxicology test indicated a possibility his drink had been spiked, Ms Ukpabi said.

In a letter to the court, his mother said the behaviour she witnessed that day was extremely out of character to the person she knows.

The man was deeply ashamed and remorseful upon being told of his behaviour, the court heard.

Acting Magistrate Janelle Boegheim sentenced the man to 12 months on probation.

No conviction was recorded.

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