Steven John Parks sentenced at Gladstone for DV offending
An underwater welder strangled and inflicted other shocking acts of domestic violence on his partner after confronting her about being unfaithful.
A Central Queensland man inflicted shocking acts of domestic violence on his cheating partner, a court has heard.
Steven John Parks, 48, was sentenced in the District Court at Gladstone after pleading guilty to common assault, strangulation, and assault occasioning bodily harm (all domestic violence offences).
The court heard Parks had been on bail for two years post offending and pre-sentence custody, and he had not reoffended in that time.
Crown Prosecutor Andreea Iordache said on May 20, 2023, Parks was a front passenger in a car being driven by the female victim on the Dawson Highway when he accused her of starting arguments, grabbed “a handful of her hair”, shoved her and punched her in the head.
The court heard the incident caused the car to veer into another lane.
Then on September 14, 2023, Parks told the woman he knew she had cheated on him and he wanted to know the name of the other man.
Ms Iordache said Parks then told the woman he would “punch every single tooth out of her head” if she didn’t tell him the name of the man who she’d cheated with.
The prosecutor said Parks continued to demand a name, grabbed the woman with both of his hands, and used his thumb to press on her neck for about three seconds - she was unable to breathe and she put her legs up against him in a bid to push him off.
The court heard Parks then told the woman she had about 10 seconds “to tell” before he did it again, and he began counting down.
The woman said “no” and “stop.”
Ms Iordache said Parks grabbed her throat again with both of his hands and held for five to six seconds.
The woman again tried to push Parks off, she couldn’t breathe and her vision “turned black with white stars”, the court heard.
Ms Iordache said after Parks let go, he punched the woman in the left eye.
The court was told the verbal altercation continued before Parks grabbed a machete and threatened self-harm.
He eventually put the machete down.
Ms Iordache said the woman ultimately told Parks the name of the other man and he started crying.
Parks then told the woman she had 30 seconds to run to the car “and whatever happens to her by the end of that time is up to her.”
Parks spent 96 days in pre-sentence custody before being granted bail.
The Crown said his criminal history was dated but relevant.
A barrister said there was “a level of toxicity” in the relationship between Parks and the woman.
He said Parks had previously worked as a boilermaker for about 10 years and that included underwater welding.
The barrister said Parks then operated a business in Gladstone but that had ceased due to his strict bail conditions.
“He was able to continue working without going into Gladstone,” the barrister said.
“And he ended up returning to underwater welding and diving - and he had to be quite innovative to do that without breaching his bail.”
The barrister explained the lengths that Parks went to, to stay working and adhere to his bail conditions.
“So, it was a fairly big effort for him to comply with his bail conditions.”
The barrister tendered a number of references for Parks.
Judge Michael Byrne sentenced Parks to three years’ jail, wholly suspended for an operational period of four years, declaring 96 days’ pre-sentence custody as time already served.
Convictions were recorded.
