Central Qld mum gets suspended jail sentence for repeat DV offending

After spending almost three weeks in custody, a Central Queensland mum accused of repeat domestic violence offending has learned her fate with new details emerging.

A mum has been given a suspended jail sentence in Gladstone Magistrates Court for repeat domestic violence offending. Generic image.

There has been a new twist in the case of a Central Queensland mother of newborn twins who was denied bail, accused of repeat domestic violence offending.

After spending 20 days in pre-sentence custody while another family member cared for the newborns, the mum was sentenced in Gladstone Magistrates Court this week where it was revealed she was pregnant again to the man who is her victim.

The woman, who by law cannot be named, pleaded guilty to charges including eight counts of contravening a domestic violence order and two breaches of bail.

With 21 prior domestic violence offences to her name, the woman’s latest offending happened in August, September and October.

“These (latest) offences occurred when (she) was on parole,” police prosecutor Sergeant Merrilyn Hoskins said.

“And they are continued, not just contact offences... what happens every time is that there’s a verbal argument and that escalates and she threatens the aggrieved.”

Sgt Hoskins said further, in September, police seized the woman’s phone which revealed she had sent the aggrieved man text and voice messages, calling him things like “sl**, motherf*****, c*** and f***face.”

Gladstone Courthouse.

The court heard that on one occasion, the pair was at a shop with a number of their children when an argument happened.

“The children had to run away and go into the store and ask for the staff to help,” Sgt Hoskins said.

The prosecutor said the woman, with a six-page criminal history, was a recidivist domestic violence offender and nothing was changing.

Solicitor Rio Ramos said the woman herself had grown up in a household that had domestic violence.

“She’s got good health - she’s pregnant... she’s again pregnant with the (man’s) child,” Ms Ramos said as the woman appeared in court from custody via video link.

Ms Ramos said the couple had been in an “on and off again” relationship and when the woman was released from custody, she planned to relocate and leave the Gladstone region.

Ultimately the solicitor made a submission for a suspended sentence.

Prior to imposing penalty, Magistrate Mary Buchanan said nothing seemed to deter the woman from committing domestic violence offences.

Ms Buchanan sentenced her to six months’ jail, wholly suspended for an operational period of 12 months, and also placed her on 12 months’ probation.

Convictions were recorded.