Ipswich personal trainer Jarreth Anthony Heraclides sentenced for drug binge DV assault

A personal trainer has faced a southeast Queensland court for brutally flogging his girlfriend when she tried to break things off, during a Christmas drug binge.

Jarreth Anthony Heraclides. Picture: Facebook

A personal trainer has faced a court west of Brisbane for brutally flogging his partner, who broke up with him during a Christmas drug binge.

Bellbird Park resident Jarreth Anthony Heraclides, 34, pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates Court on October 31 to 12 charges including assault occasioning bodily harm (DV), possessing dangerous drugs, entering a premises and committing an indictable offence by break, unlawful use of motor vehicles, unlawful possession of a category B weapon, and three counts of stealing.

Heraclides had assaulted his partner in Annerley on December 27 last year, following a drug binge that the court heard spanned several days.

Magistrate Dennis Kinsella said the couple had descended into violence after Heraclides’ partner told him she wanted to break up.

He said Heraclides had “flogged” the woman, causing injuries including a laceration to her left eye and a scratch that she required stitches for.

Defence lawyer John Wilson noted punches had been thrown by both parties during the incident.

Mr Kinsella agreed the relationship appeared to be “complex and perhaps dysfunctional”.

He acknowledged that Heraclides’ behaviour had been “reciprocated to some degree … but clearly she comes off worse.”

“You’re clearly much stronger, a much more powerful person,” he told Heraclides.

After the assault, Heraclides had taken off in a car that his partner had been hiring at the time.

Mr Kinsella said Heraclides was then involved in a health service vehicle break-in, which involved a window being smashed and a number of items being taken.

Heraclides was arrested on December 30 and spent the next 306 days in custody on remand.

The court heard he had previously been convicted in Beenleigh District Court for assault occasioning bodily harm.

On that occasion he had punched a man repeatedly, continuing to beat him even after he fell unconscious.

Mr Wilson said his client had started using cannabis at a young age following a difficult childhood, but that methamphetamine had become the more “problematic” drug for him in recent years.

He said Heraclides had had a devastating “light bulb moment” recently after his 12-year-old son told him he wanted to come to jail to be with him.

Heraclides had been clean throughout his time in custody on remand and was now intent on finding stable work and accommodation, the court heard.

Mr Wilson said Heraclides had multiple qualifications in personal training, and had been training everyday in custody with hopes to resume work in that field.

Mr Kinsella encouraged Heraclides to change his ways for his son’s sake, or otherwise “stay out of his life”.

“That’s the cold hard reality,” he said.

“We learn from those that bring us up, and unfortunately that can be a good or bad experience.”

He sentenced Heraclides to 18 months imprisonment, with immediate parole and 306 days in presentence custody declared as time-served.