Yarrabilba tradie Jordan David sentenced in Ipswich Court for DV strangulation of wife

A southeast Queensland tradie has been jailed after a judge deemed his shocking domestic violence too dangerous for him to walk free – despite his wife “begging” the court to forgive him.

Yarrabilba resident Jordan David, 35. Picture: Facebook

A southeast Queensland tradie dragged his wife across the kitchen and strangled her until she thought she would pass out.

But the woman still showed support for her “loving husband” in court, saying she intended to share her life with him and have children together.

Yarrabilba’s Jordan David, 35, pleaded guilty in Ipswich District Court on Tuesday, November 14 to one count each of strangulation in a domestic setting and common assault (DV).

The court heard David assaulted his wife in their Ipswich home on January 24.

Crown prosecutor Rachel Stewart told the court David started swearing and yelling at his wife while she was getting ready for work.

The woman pushed him away and left the room, but they continued to argue in the kitchen.

Ms Stewart said David grabbed his wife by the collar of her shirt and dragged her across the kitchen.

He then grabbed her neck with both hands for about one minute, Ms Stewart said.

“The complainant could not breathe and felt like she would pass out,” she said.

The woman pushed David away and told him she would call the police.

But David told her “If you call the cops, pack your bags and go,” before slapping her in the back of the head.

He was arrested after a neighbour phoned police.

Ms Stewart said David tried to minimise his conduct to police by saying he could not recall applying pressure to his wife’s neck.

Defence barrister Emma Thorsen tendered a letter from David’s wife outlining loyalty and support for her “loving husband”.

It said the offending occurred soon after the loss of David’s grandmother, Ms Thorsen said.

Ms Thorsen also tendered letters of support from David’s sister and father-in-law, a senior pastor.

Judge Benedict Power said he had found the sister’s letter particularly moving, noting it outlined the “very traumatic” experiences her brother had faced throughout their childhood in Liberia.

David moved to Australia aged 14 after living in a refugee camp.

He had two children from a previous relationship and recently worked in concreting for the Cross River Rail project.

Judge Power said the sister’s letter contributed to his decision to reduce the penalty he might otherwise have imposed.

But he still considered actual imprisonment to be necessary.

“He has had terrible and tragic experiences in his past, but the offence against his wife, including stopping her breath for a minute, is just so serious,” Judge Power said.

He told David that his wife’s ongoing support was a positive sign but, despite her essentially “begging for forgiveness” from the courts, that could not overpower the need for deterrence.

“You need to deal with the trauma that you suffered in childhood to ensure that when you are provoked in a domestic setting, which inevitably will happen at some point, that you are able to deal with it,” Judge Power said.

David was sentenced to two years’ jail, with one day of presentence custody declared as time-served.

He will be released on parole after serving four months in jail, on March 12 next year.

“The sentence is reduced by virtue of the fact that your wife sees such good in you and sees that you are somebody that she wants to have a life together with,” Judge Power told David.

“I hope the best for you … that the loyalty that your wife has shown to you is something that you value and take into account in all your conduct in the future.”