Man in Gladstone court for 20th domestic violence offence

A Gladstone man has faced court for his 20th domestic violence offence with the prosecution saying he has a “blatant disregard” for the law.

A man faced Gladstone Magistrates Court on March 15, 2023, for his 20th domestic violence offence.

A man has been given a jail sentence after he faced a Gladstone court for his 20th domestic violence offence.

The 46-year-old, who by law cannot be named, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on March 15 to contravening a domestic violence order.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Tanya Griffiths said that on December 4 last year, police were called to a domestic disturbance at Gladstone where the man attended the aggrieved woman’s residence.

The court heard the order in place prevented him from being there.

Sgt Griffiths said the man yelled at the woman and kicked a door.

The court was told the man had a six-page criminal history and Sgt Griffiths said it was “concerning” that the man had 19 previous domestic violence offences on that history.

The court heard the man was last before Gladstone Magistrates Court in July, 2022, for domestic violence offending against the same aggrieved, for which he received two months’ imprisonment with immediate parole.

Sgt Griffiths said the man had shown a “blatant disregard” for the domestic violence order.

“The 19 previous domestic violence offences, he’s had the opportunity of all sentencing options - fines, probation, suspended sentences and immediate parole,” Sgt Griffiths said.

“The message is simply not getting through.”

Solicitor Bianca Wieland said the man knew he could not attend the residence of the aggrieved.

She said on the day of this offending, the man had been contacted by the aggrieved woman’s housemate who had asked him for help and he went to the house.

Ms Wieland said the housemate told the man the aggrieved was not at home.

Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan sentenced the man to six months’ jail with immediate parole.

A conviction was recorded.