Dennis Matatia Warrior in Rockhampton court for stalking, assaults

A desperate woman was so terrified of her abusive stalker boyfriend harassing her for money that she paid him simply so he would “leave her alone”.

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A violent ex-boyfriend who subjected his partner to a tirade of horrific physical and verbal abuse, including in front of his mates, has been jailed for stalking and an array of assault offences.

Dennis Matatia Warrior, 48, had been in a relationship with this victim since 2020 and moved in to her home in May 2022 before a set of offences occurred which landed him in front of Rockhampton District Court on October 17.

The offences started after Warrior had gone to his nephew’s place on November 11, 2023, and just after 6pm, he sent the victim a message to put money in his account so he could pay for somewhere to stay.

Judge Jeff Clarke said the victim replied that she would do that after he paid her for the items he had “smashed when you were drunk and abusive”.

The pair continued communicating, with Warrior sending messages saying “put the c--- in there. This is why I hit you”, then “put the $1000 in there now. If you don’t, I’ll be around” one minute later.

He also messaged “hurry Jesus before I will flog you again. You want to push me over the limit”, followed by “I will make a big scene at your place tomorrow if you don’t send me money, I swear on my father’s grave” and “I’m going to f--- you up. Can’t despair motherf---er, you’re dead you c---”.

His vile messages continued, saying “this is my last time, I’m asking you send me $500 please. Because if you don’t, I’ll do something stupid” and “I’ve got nothing to lose”.

Judge Clarke said Warrior arrived at the victim’s home later that evening with other people in tow and called her derogatory names, yelled at her and went inside her house.

He said the victim had other people assist her to try and get Warrior to “get rid of you”.

“You got angry, continued to yell at her about this money,” Judge Clarke said.

“One of the men had to stand in front of her to protect her, and you were removed from the house by these other people.

“You all got in the car that you arrived in and left.”

The victim went back to bed and Warrior called her six times between 11pm and 11.20pm, then messaged and called her 87 times the next night in a four-hour period before attending her home again after midnight.

This time, when Warrior asked for money and abused her, the victim transferred $500 “because of her terror” and “so that you would leave her alone”, Judge Clarke said.

Two months later, the victim was attending an appointment in Bolsover Street but had told Warrior she had to stay back at work late.

Warrior later confronted her at her home, asking her where she had been before accusing her of cheating on him.

Two days later at 1am, he showed up on her doorstep banging on her window and when she let him inside, he again accused her of infidelity and called her derogatory names, following her to the bedroom as she tried to escape.

As she sat on the bed, Warrior slapped her face, causing her lip to split and blood pour into her mouth.

The victim ran into the bathroom with her hands cupping her bleeding lip, but Warrior blocked her way and hit her in the eye after she said she needed to go to the bathroom.

Judge Clarke said the victim saw stars as a result of the punch to her face and she sustained bruising and swelling.

He said Warrior yelled at the victim that he would “slit her throat” if she went to police, causing the victim to be fearful for her life.

Warrior eventually let the victim pass to clean herself and tend to the lip injury.

About a week later, the victim told Warrior she wanted nothing more to do with him, but he went to her house again one week later, drunk, and yelled at her.

He then went into the victim’s bedroom and hit her in the forehead, causing a haematoma, and as she turned away, Warrior punched her in the back of the head.

“You picked up things and threw them at her, including a phone which hit her in her left breast and leaving a bruise,” Judge Clarke said.

Other items hit her torso and other parts of her body.

Warrior also picked up a child’s fish tank and threw it on the ground, smashing it and accidentally cutting his own hand.

He then smeared his blood from the wound on his hand on her face.

The victim told him to leave and Warrior told her to take him to his cousin’s place.

The victim drove him to the cousin’s place and while doing this, Warrior slapped while she was driving, pulled a clump of her hair out as she drove over a bridge and continued to yell at her.

She got back to her home at 4am and Warrior messaged her using another person’s phone later that morning to pick him up but she instead went to police to make a formal complaint and to the hospital for medical care.

Judge Clarke described Warrior’s offending as “ugly, threatening, controlling violence” with no explanation.

“The victim impact statement confirms the profound and far reaching impact,” he said.

“She hopes you get help and don’t treat another person like this.

“She has suffered the physical injuries.

“She suffers anxiety, panic attacks, social withdrawal and suffers feelings of stress… and she’s worried that you’ll return and carry out your vile threats towards her.”

Defence barrister Maree Willey said Warrior was an only child, grew up in Barcaldine and both of his parents were deceased.

She said he has two children, both adults, who live in Cairns.

Ms Willey said Warrior had worked in labour, construction and at the meatworks, and was soon to start work with RMC Rail Services in track work.

The court heard this was his third domestic violence victim on his domestic violence history.

Warrior pleaded guilty to one count of stalking, two of assault occasioning bodily harm, one of wilful damage and three common assaults.

He was sentenced to two years prison with 186 days presentence custody declared as time already served and released immediately on parole.