Ashley James McInnes in Gympie District Court for assault occasioning bodily harm

A former tree-lopper, who turned up to the home of his girlfriend’s ex, had a savage way of ensuring any images of his lover were deleted.

Ashley James McInnes convict for assault in Gympie District Court, Feb 4, 2024 (b)

A former tree-lopper has managed to avoid more jail time after proving he has been clean of drugs and crime for almost 18 months.

Ashley James McInnes, 26, appeared in Gympie District Court on Tuesday morning and pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, relating to an incident in December, 2020.

McInnes, who was 23 at the time, visited the Glenwood home of his then-girlfriend’s former partner to pick up some of her things from his garage, Crown Prosecutor Burn said.

Inside the most expensive homes in Pie Creek, Gympie

Ashley James McInnes pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm at Gympie District Court, February 6, 2024.

While he was at the house, McInnes demanded the 42-year-old man’s phone, wanting to check if he had photos of his girlfriend on it, the court heard.

McInnes then assaulted the man, kicking him in the head, chest and ribs, “a dozen times”, and when he was on the ground “in a defensive position” he stomped on his head and continued to kick him in the chest, the court heard.

He suffered “relatively minor injuries with some soft tissue damage” and has complained of ongoing headaches due to the assault, the court heard.

“For some reason you weren’t arrested for quite a while,” Judge Glen Cash said.

“You were arrested in late September 2022, and you then spent 82 days in jail.”

The court heard McInnes had been convicted for break and enter, obstruction of police and possession of drugs and received a suspended sentence.

His childhood was disadvantaged by the separation of his parents, an absent father and an abusive stepfather, defence barrister William Prizeman said.

The court heard how he started using cannabis at the age of 10 and by 12, had been kicked out of home and was using meth.

Despite this he completed year 12 at a flexi learning centre, worked for some time as a tree-lopper, and had been seeking treatment for his drug-induced mental health conditions.

The court heard how since he was released on bail in September 2022, McInnes had been clean from drugs and crime since then and had re-established connections with his family who were now supporting him.

Due to the onerous bail conditions, he had struggled to find work but was doing well staying away from drugs and crime and hoped to set himself up in his own house outside of Gympie, Mr Prizeman said.

Judge Cash sentenced McInnes to 18 months' imprisonment with immediate parole, taking into account his 82 days in pre-custody.