Ipswich man fronts court after allegedly punching child in the face

An Ipswich man who has allegedly committed a domestic violence offence “every month” since March has now been accused of punching a child in the face.

An Ipswich man has had his application for bail denied after he allegedly punched a child in the face.

The 33-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Monday May 30 via video-link from custody on one charge of common assault.

The alleged offence occurred on May 28 and is being investigated by the Child Protection Unit.

The man’s lawyer Sally Jenkins told the court the application may be considered “borderline”.

She said her client had intellectual disabilities and has had a carer for the past 10 years.

The court heard that while the man had never been in custody before, he was charged with domestic violence related offences in March, April, and now in May.

Ms Jenkins said certain elements of the alleged assault would need to be “looked at”.

“The child made a further statement and the punch is referred to as … not a punch to the face, but a back-of-the-hand assault,” Ms Jenkins said.

“(It is) still a common assault but that, I imagine, would need to be looked at.”

Ms Jenkins said her client “desperately” needed rehabilitation, especially given he allegedly committed domestic violence offences “every month” while intoxicated.

She noted the man presented as “calm” and “gentle” when she spoke to him sober.

The application for bail was “part heard” on Monday to give the man time to find a bed at a rehabilitation facility.

His matter will return to Ipswich Magistrates Court on June 21, when he will appear again via video-link.

He will remain in custody until then.