Teen choked, lifted his girlfriend off the ground during argument

A young man has narrowly avoided going to Capricornia Correctional Centre to spend time with “big strong men who don’t like little men who pick on women” after pleading guilty to choking, common assault and threatening to distribute intimate photographs.

A young man has narrowly avoided going to Capricornia Correctional Centre to spend time with “big strong men who don’t like little men who pick on women” after pleading guilty to choking, common assault and threatening to distribute intimate photographs.

The defendant, 19, was sentenced in Rockhampton District Court on June 25 for the offences he committed against his then teenage girlfriend.

His victim bravely sat in the back of the courtroom with the support of her father and friend, and read her victim impact statement to the court during a closed session.

Crown prosecutor Alanna Murray said the offences took place at the defendant’s North Rockhampton home on various dates when he was 18 and his victim was 16.

On one occasion, the victim tried to leave the defendant’s bedroom during an argument but he blocked the door, took her phone off her, pushed her back onto the bed, straddled her and held her down by the throat for a few seconds.

“Her breathing was not impacted at that point but she was too scared to fight back,” Ms Murray said.

The defendant apologised afterwards and claimed he would not do it again.

However, the next time the defendant put his hands around his victim’s neck, he lifted her so far off the ground her toes couldn’t find the ground.

Again, the victim had tried to leave after an argument with the defendant over trust issues.

This time he ran up behind her, knocked her down, grabbed her by her ankles and dragged her to another room.

She kicked out at him in an attempt to free herself from his grip and repeatedly told him to stop.

When he did stop, he allowed the victim to stand on her feet before grabbing her by the throat, lifting her off the ground and choking her.

“The victim knew she was off the ground because she looked down and tried to touch the floor with her toes but couldn’t reach,” Ms Murray said.

She said the victim couldn’t breath and began to panic, felt disoriented and was scared.

The defendant let go of her, but the victim was so disorientated she fell to the floor without putting her arms out to break the impact, landing on face.

The victim stayed on the floor for some time before collecting her things and being picked up by her mother, hiding the red marks on her neck with her hair.

Another relative noticed the marks and the first offences were disclosed.

When the victim tried to formally end the relationship, the defendant told her he had intended to kill her when he choked her previously and she was “lucky” he didn’t kill her.

He then called her 27 times in 47 minutes and sent 46 messages, threatening to send an intimate photograph of her to others, including her friends and mother.

She told him to stop.

He told her in another message if she answered his calls, he wouldn’t send the photograph.

Judge Jeff Clarke said it was very concerning someone so young would commit such serious offences.

“What happened here was truly alarming,” he said.

Judge Clarke told the defendant he had it in his mind to send him “off to Capricornia” to spend six months with “big strong men who don’t like little men who pick on women”.

However, defence barrister Scott Moon informed the court of the mental health issues his client had suffered after being extensively bullied by his brothers growing up.

He said the defendant had attended five sessions with a psychiatrist and was now medicated for his mental health issues.

Mr Moon said his client claimed he had been using illicit drugs during the relationship and had since rehabilitated.

Judge Clarke sentenced the defendant to two years prison with immediate parole.