Scaffolder sentenced for Gladstone region DV attack

A Central Queensland scaffolder tackled a woman to the ground and then had his forearm across her throat in a domestic violence attack police were called to.

A scaffolder tackled a woman to the ground and then had his forearm across her throat in a domestic violence attack at a Gladstone region residence. Generic image.

A Central Queensland scaffolder has been sentenced for a domestic violence attack where he tackled a woman to the ground and then had his forearm across her throat.

The man, who by law cannot be named, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court this week to contravening a domestic violence order (aggravated offence).

The court heard that on May 9 about 10.30pm, police attended a Gladstone region residence in response to a domestic violence complaint.

When police arrived, they saw the man sitting out the front of the property.

After going inside the residence, officers saw broken items on the kitchen floor.

They spoke to the man and the aggrieved woman.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Merrilyn Hoskins said police determined that both the man and the woman had been drinking throughout the day.

Sergeant Hoskins said the woman had been on a video call when an argument “erupted” because the man was “inserting himself in the conversation which he didn’t need to be a part of.”

“The (man) eventually tackled the (woman) to the ground and placed his forearm across her throat,” Sergeant Hoskins said.

The prosecutor said the woman told police that during the incident, she had thrown a cat bowl across the floor which broke it.

Queensland Ambulance Service was called to the residence but the woman declined to be treated by paramedics.

The man had a three-page criminal history which included previous domestic violence offending.

Solicitor Bianca Wieland said the man, a father, was working as a scaffolder.

Ms Wieland said on the night of the incident, the argument had escalated and the man was “remorseful for his behaviour.”

The solicitor said the couple’s relationship had now ended and they were “on amicable terms.”

Magistrate Mary Buchanan sentenced the man to two months’ jail, wholly suspended for an operational period of 12 months.

A conviction was recorded.