Rhys Mark Francis Bayliss jail for horrific attack on partner

A court heard Rhys Mark Francis Bayliss began assaulting his partner at 7.30pm. About six hours later he was stuffing bloody sheets into a washing machine and lying to police about how he had cut his knuckles. Warning: distressing.

A Somerset man has been jailed after he subjected his then partner to a night of violence which ended with the pair’s bed soaked in the woman’s blood.

Ipswich District court heard the Esk and Stanthorpe man Rhys Mark Francis Bayliss, began assaulting his partner at 7.30pm on May 7, 2021.

About six hours later Bayliss was stuffing bloody sheets into a washing machine and lying to police about how he had cut his knuckles.

Crown prosecutor Michelle Parfitt said the 31-year-old man began the assault while the pair was driving home.

Ms Parfitt said after Bayliss initiated an argument and the woman pulled over and got out of the car.

After yelling at the woman angrily to get back in the car, Bayliss ran at her and tried to push her back into the car before hitting her all over her body.

“She fell onto the road and asked him to stop but he continued to kick her,” Ms Parfitt said.

Despite the pair getting back in the car and driving away the series of events repeated.

Although this time Ms Parfitt said Bayliss pushed the woman head first into the car resulting in her head colliding with the handbrake before he squeezed her face.

The pair drove home, and although the woman had waited for Bayliss to “pass out” before she went inside, the assault was far from over.

Ms Parfitt said Bayliss woke during the night and began drinking a beer before accusing the woman of cheating on him.

The court heard Bayliss then sat on top of the woman in bed and pushed down on her throat and punched her in the face, which caused her nose to bleed heavily.

Ms Parfitt said he then suffocated her by covering her mouth while it filled with blood.

“His hand slipped in the blood several times… eventually he let her go,” she said.

“There was quite a bit of blood around the bed.

“He asked her ‘what are you going to say?’”

The woman responded, “really Rhys? Look what you have done.”

Ms Parfitt said Bayliss then grabbed her by the throat and pushed her on the bed while screaming in her face and blaming her for the assault.

Domestic violence offender Rhys Mark Francis Bayliss has been jailed.

Ms Parfitt said when Bayliss left to wash the bloody sheets the woman texted her roommate to come into the room and the pair soon left and called police.

The court heard when police arrived an officer asked Bayliss how he had cut his

knuckle, which he said was from a punching bag which was unused and covered in

dust.

The court heard Bayliss had a history of violence, and was on bail at the time for the strangulation and serious assault of his father.

At the Ipswich District Court on Thursday, April 2022, Bayliss pleaded guilty to the following domestic violence charges: assault causing bodily harm, common assault, and choking suffocation.

Defence barrister Allana Davie said Bayliss clearly had an alcohol problem and had taken steps to address his behaviour because he felt like a “horrible person”.

Ms Davie noted Bayliss had a strong working history and ordinarily had contributed positively to society.

Judge John Byrne told Bayliss his offending was atrocious and noted he was irrationally upset over nothing.

Judge Byrne said acts of domestic violence were hideous and the scourge of society before sentencing him to four-and-a-half years in jail.

Bayliss will be eligible for parole on January 11, 2023.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, do not hesitate to make contact with a professional or contact one or more of the following:

DV Connect Womensline: 1800 811 811

DV Connect Mensline: 1800 600 636

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732

Sexual Assault Helpline: 1800 010 120

Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Domestic Violence Action Centre: 4642 1354

Sexual Assault Support Service (Toowoomba): 4616 6950

Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service: 1800 88 77 00