Testicles grabbed after $10k hidden cash stash ‘stolen’ at Yeppoon

A Central Queensland court has heard a blow by blow account of a violent bathroom brawl that occurred after a woman “stole” a man’s hidden $10k cash stash.

A Yeppoon court has heard details of a shocking domestic violence incident. Generic image.

A Central Queensland court has heard details about a violent bathroom brawl which occurred after a woman “stole” a man’s hidden $10k cash stash.

The 43-year-old man, who by law cannot be named, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on February 2 to two counts of contravening a domestic violence order.

Police prosecutor Courtney Brown said that on May 23 last year, the man’s ex-partner called police in relation to a concern about him, and officers attended a Yeppoon residence where the pair were, spoke to the man, and left.

Ms Brown said the woman then walked past the man in a back shed and he pushed her into a cabinet.

“The (woman) has hit the right side of her head on the cabinet (and) could feel pain,” Ms Brown said.

The man was charged in relation to that incident.

The second incident happened the following day.

Ms Brown said the woman found a large amount of cash behind a painting near the man’s bedroom, took the money and went into the bathroom.

The man confronted the woman and demanded she give the money back, before putting some of the cash down his pants, the court heard.

Ms Brown said the man then fought the woman to the floor and held her on the ground while attempting to retrieve more of the money.

“The (woman) could feel extreme pain on the side of her head as a result of the (man’s) bashings,” Ms Brown said.

“The (man) then put his elbow to the back of the (woman’s) neck.

“The (woman), fearing for her safety, has grabbed scales and hit the (man) in the head with the scales multiple times so she could get free.”

Ms Brown said the man pushed the scales from the woman’s hand and put his elbow on her jaw “on a pressure point, causing pain”, while she begged him to stop.

Ms Brown said the man then put a hand down the woman’s pants to retrieve money.

“The (woman) has then grabbed and squeezed the (man’s) testicles hard,” Ms Brown said.

“The (man) said: ‘let my balls go and I’ll let you go’.”

Ms Brown said the woman released her grip, the man retrieved the money, and he called emergency services.

The woman locked herself in a bedroom until police and paramedics arrived, and was taken to Yeppoon Hospital for treatment.

The court heard the man had no criminal history.

Solicitor Grant Cagney said before the couple separated they were engaged but the woman’s drug use affected the relationship towards the end of it.

The solicitor said the man ran his own business and the money involved in this incident was related to that.

“She, in the midst of technically leaving the relationship, took that money - $10,000, it’s not an insignificant sum,” Mr Cagney said.

“And lied to him about taking it and of course, on the day in question he recovered that money.”

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale fined the man $1000 and no conviction was recorded.