Rhys Andrew Archer guilty of disturbing domestic violence attack

A court has heard how a jealous and drunk Brisbane man armed himself before going to his Ipswich ex’s house to terrorise her.

A jilted Ipswich lover went to his ex-girlfriend’s home uninvited and terrorised her family with a knife and razor blade before slugging her in the mouth.

Ipswich Magistrates Court heard Archerfield man Rhys Andrew Archer, 26, went to the woman’s Redbank home on December 6 last year.

Appearing by video link from jail, Archer pleaded guilty to threatening violence, assault occasioning bodily harm, contravening a domestic violence order; going armed in public so as to cause fear, and mid-range drink driving.

The court heard the “very drunk and struggling” Archer arrived at the residence unnanounced about 6pm initially armed with a razor blade, before helping himself to a knife from the kitchen.

He made derogatory, racial slurs towards her and her new partner, such as calling them “bush pigs”, “bloody dogs” and “c****”.

Archerfield domestic violence abuser Rhys David Archer, 26. Picture: Facebook

Archer demanded to know where his ex-girlfriend’s new partner lived: “If you don’t tell me I will go to the house and the first person to open the door I will stab them,” Archer said.

He also used a closed fist to punch his ex in the face causing pain and bleeding in her mouth after rummaging through her handbag and trying to access her phone.

Disturbingly, he told a child at the residence, “Mummy is going to be sleeping for good tonight”.

The woman was left sobbing in the front yard with the child, the court heard.

A neighbour who came to check after hearing a disturbance was also threatened.

Defence counsel Daniel Caruana told the court his client was “struggling” at the end of a relationship.

“It was serious but an immature response to an emotional situation,” Mr Caruana said.

“He is a man with a concerning history, but it is not littered with violence.

“He had a significant drug problem and he has been able to get on top of it.”

Mr Caruana tended references and a letter from Archer’s boss saying he had a job to return to when he was released from jail, where he has been languishing for eight months and 20 days.

The court heard Archer’s criminal history included a suspended jail sentence for drug trafficking, imposed in June 2016 and breached by the current domestic violence offences.

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess said Archer’s derogatory abuse, making threats of violence and arming himself were very serious and “classic” signs of domestic violence.

“I’m sure you don’t go to your work colleagues and call them bush pigs, c****, or punch your colleagues in the face,” Ms Sturgess said.

Ms Sturgess warned Archer that children being exposed to domestic abuse suffer lifelong consequences.

“You and the community need to understand that this behaviour is not acceptable. This is domestic violence,” she said.

Archer was sentenced to two years’ jail with immediate court-ordered parole, taking into account time served.

He was also disqualified from driving for three months.