Kingaroy Court: Man sentenced for vicious attacks on partner, threats to kill her dog

After burning his partner with cigarettes during a morning of shocking abuse, a South Burnett man grabbed the woman’s new puppy by the neck and threatened to throw the defenceless animal off a balcony.

A South Burnett man who burned his partner with cigarettes and spat on her, then forced her to watch on in horror as he held her four-week-old puppy by the neck and threatened to throw it off a balcony at her.

The man and his partner of 15 years were fighting on the morning of May 19, 2021, when things turned physical and he began “pulling her hair”, “putting cigarettes out on her” and spitting at her.

“He forcefully pushed her over, picked her up by the head and punched her in the face,” police prosecutor Lisa Manns told Kingaroy Magistrates Court.

The man then hit the woman hard in the ribs, causing redness and scratch marks.

The victim ran outside to get away from her abuser and he soon appeared on the front veranda balcony holding her four-week-old puppy by the neck.

Sergeant Manns said the 34-year-old threatened to kill the puppy by throwing it at the victim, and the threat caused “significant distress” over the welfare of her dog.

The victim told police he’d also smashed “all her stuff”, including $700 worth of ornaments.

The court was told the fight was sparked over the victim spending $130 from the couple’s joint bank account.

Neighbours also reported seeing the man swinging “either a baseball bat or large chunk of wood” and yelling profanities at the woman.

“He’s then spotted (the neighbours) who were across the street,” Sergeant Manns said.

The man stepped toward them onto the road with the bat still in hand and threatened to bash them if they called police, the court heard.

The prior month, the man also smashed the victim’s television and let the air out of her car tyres.

The self-represented man told the court he’d taken steps to improve his life and had begun repaying the victim for the damage.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of contravening a domestic violence order, breach duty of care to an animal, commit public nuisance, and wilful damage.

He was placed on probation for 18 months and fined $500.