Damien Wallis in Gympie court for assault, choking

A man’s ‘cowardly’ assault while smoking cannabis left a woman ‘curled into a ball trying to breathe’ as details from the violent night were shared in court.

Damien Wallis leaving Gympie District Court on February 3, 2023.

A former masonry worker choked a woman multiple times in one night while he was smoking cannabis in what has been described as a “cowardly” assault.

Damien Wallis pleaded guilty on Friday, February 3 in Gympie Magistrates Court to two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and two counts of choking.

Crown prosecutor Michael Andronicus told the court Wallis was smoking cannabis and the victim was drinking on the night of March 1, 2022 when an argument began.

As the woman got up to get a drink of water, Wallis stood in a doorway, blocking her path as she tried to push him out of the way.

Wallis had told the woman, “don’t f---ing touch me” and shoved her backwards.

The woman fell on her back and was left with bruising, the court heard.

Wallis climbed on top of the woman and began squeezing her neck for several seconds and the woman couldn’t breathe.

Later that night, he threatened to “end her” and climbed onto her again to choke her with both hands.

Taking one hand off her neck, Wallis made motions with his fist as to pretend he would punch her in the face, the court heard.

“While still holding her neck with one hand, he punched her in the stomach; he winded her and caused her immediate pain,” Mr Andronicus told the court.

“She curled into a ball trying to breathe and cough at the same time.”

The woman had pain in her throat for a week and bruising on her back and forearms, Mr Andronicus told the court.

When police arrested him, Wallis told officers “things went wrong” and “out of control”.

He denied he had been drinking and using drugs, the court heard.

Wallis was on a suspended sentence for grievous bodily harm at the time and previously spent 315 days in jail for the offence, Mr Andronicus told the court.

Defence barrister Simone Bain said Wallis previously worked at a masonry business and was offered work within his parents’ business.

Judge Glenn Cash said his attack on the woman was “cowardly.”

He was sentenced to three years’ prison with a parole release date of March 15. His 325 days in pre-sentence custody was declared as time served.