Paul Andrew Hill in Rockhampton court for assault and choking

A woman struggled to breathe as she was dragged down the hallway of her home by a man who had violently assaulted her while on methamphetamine and accused her of cheating on him.

Paul Andrew Hill, 33.

A woman struggled to breathe as she was dragged down the hallway of her home by a man who had violently assaulted her while on methamphetamine and accused her of cheating on him.

Paul Andrew Hill, 33, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton District Court on June 2 to one count each of assault occasioning bodily harm, choking and offence to deal with prohibited substances.

Crown prosecutor Luke Smoothy said on the morning of March 27, 2022 Hill, who had a nine-page criminal record, was at the woman’s house in Rockhampton and that after breakfast she saw he had her mobile phone.

Mr Smoothy said Hill called the woman into the bedroom and made a comment about how he had told her not to do something and then punched her in the face, which caused her to fall over.

Hill then punched her body five or six more times.

The court heard the woman ran to the front window of the home and called out for someone to call the police for help.

Mr Smoothy said Hill grabbed the woman’s head and hit it against the window.

He said the woman fell to the floor and that Hill stood on her neck for a couple of seconds.

Hill then grabbed the woman by the throat and pulled her down the hallway, the court heard.

“She could not breathe,” Mr Smoothy said.

“He threw her into the shower and told her to clean herself up.”

He said the woman ran from the house to neighbours who gave her a phone to call police.

However, Hill had left and an arrest warrant was issued.

Hill was found by police in Mount Isa on May 15.

Mr Smoothy said Hill told police he had confronted the victim because he believed she had been cheating on him and that he was on meth at the time.

He said Hill, who had also been found in possession of buprenorphine, told police he ran away because he was afraid of going back to jail.

Defence barrister Sheridan Shaw started using meth when he was about 17 or 18 years old.

Ms Shaw said her client, who had three children, was looking after his mother in Mount Isa who was unwell.

“This time he might be able to stop,” Ms Shaw said.

“He can’t take meth and help her.”

Judge Jeff Clarke said it was clear Hill acted out of jealousy.

“Quite frankly she may well have wanted to be with someone who didn’t treat her like rubbish and violently attack her,” he said.

Judge Clarke sentenced Hill to 3.5 years’ prison, with parole eligibility on July 6 and declared 383 days of pre-sentence custody as time already served.