Roma Magistrates Court: Man bit and headbutted woman in vicious assault

A woman locked herself inside her bathroom and called police after a Roma man headbutted her, pinned her to the bed and bit her during a vicious attack. WARNING: GRAPHIC

The Roma man who orchestrated a vicious attack on a ‘frightened’ woman has faced court after police attended the scene and found the victim’s blood on his face.

A 28-year-old Roma man pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to causing bodily harm, common assault and breaching a domestic violence order.

During September and October last year, the defendant led two serious assaults against a woman known to him after he accused her of cheating, the court was told.

On September 15, the defendant confronted the woman over cheating allegations and accused her of calling him a “woman-basher” before smacking her in the face and headbutting her.

“He put his knees on her chest, his hands around her throat and squeezed them. She struggled to breathe but didn’t lose consciousness and the victim left the address,” police prosecutions said.

Further, on October 8 the defendant breached the DV protection order and committed a second “cowardly assault” where he bit her on the cheek and drew blood before she locked herself in the bathroom and called police.

Police prosecutions said this attack was “a particularly serious and heinous type of behaviour”.

“It is degrading and belittling. An obvious display of dominance over the victim,” he said.

Magistrate Shane Elliott said the most concerning part of the case was how he put his hands around her neck and said he was lucky to not have been charged with choking.

“During the cowardly assault on the second incident you put your body weight on her and bit her twice and drew blood. You verbally abused her and hit her across the head,” the magistrate said.

“You pinned her down with your hands or knees and bit her on the right cheek twice and hit her again across head when she stood up. She ran out of the bedroom with blood on her face, with some of it landing on you.

“She was so frightened she took her phone and hid in the bathroom where she contacted police. The aggrieved here is in genuine fear of him.”

The defendant came before the court with a five page criminal history and two previous prison sentences dating back to 2013 and 2016 relating to DV offences.

Defence lawyer Trevor May said his client was intoxicated at the time of crimes.

He said he had spent five months in pre-sentence custody and had caused no issues.

Magistrate Elliott sentenced the defendant to a total of 18 months imprisonment with his release date set for April 7 after taking into account his 152 days of time already served in custody.