Whardin James Cobbo: Cherbourg man sentenced over brutal assault on ex-partner

NAMED: A man will be eligible for parole in just months after a horrifying assault on the mother of his child, which left the woman coughing blood and unable to breathe.

A Cherbourg man has been sentenced to years behind bars for a horrifying attack on his ex-partner that left her with life-threatening injuries.

Whardin James Cobbo and his partner at the time got into an argument about family concerns and allegations of infidelity against the woman on a Cherbourg street on March 7, 2020, the court was told

Kingaroy District Court was told the altercation escalated with Cobbo slapping the woman, causing her to fall to the ground, before the victim walked away towards a nearby gully.

Crown prosecutor Rebecca Marks said the 29-year-old followed his victim into the gully and violently assaulted her, hitting her on the head and then stomping on and kicking her while she was on the ground.

Cobbo then walked off, leaving the unconscious woman in the gully.

Ms Marks told the court nearby family members found the victim falling in and out of consciousness and complaining she was struggling to breathe.

She said the woman also had ligature marks on her neck, but it was not clear how these injuries occurred.

The victim went into respiratory arrest when she was first taken into hospital, so was soon intubated and transported to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital later that night for further treatment.

Defence barrister Catherine Cuthbert said her client was a gifted rugby league athlete and played first-grade football for the Cherbourg Hornets.

She added that Cobbo was now aware he needed to control his drug and alcohol use in the future.

Judge Glen Cash slammed Cobbo’s “vicious” attack that left his victim coughing blood.

“When you finished the assault, you simply walked away, leaving her unconscious in the ditch,” Judge Cash said.

“If the doctors hadn’t done what they did, it’s likely that she would have died as a result of the injuries.”

Cobbo pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm.

He was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail, with 356 days of pre-sentence custody declared.

His parole eligibility date was fixed on August 20, after he has served a total of 18 months behind bars.