Man sentenced for 208 domestic violence order breaches

A Sunshine Coast court has heard details of a father’s “deplorable” acts of domestic violence against a woman, which led to more than 200 breaches via abusive and controlling texts.

A series of abusive and controlling text messages have revealed the “deplorable” manipulation a Sunshine Coast dad subjected a woman to, as he was sentenced for more than 200 breaches of a domestic violence order.

The man, who legally cannot be identified, appeared via videolink in the Caloundra Magistrates Court on Tuesday, October 24, where he pleaded guilty to 208 charges of breaching a domestic violence order.

The court was told the man had sent upwards of 200 abusive text messages to a woman and called her multiple times while he was in prison for an earlier sentence of contravening a domestic violence order. This had breached a non-contact requirement of a domestic violence order.

Police prosecutor Phillip Stephens said the man had been “quite controlling” with the victim and was “quite coercive” by asking her to do certain things for him.

The victim was also subject to “relentless emotional abuse” and “victim blaming”, Sergeant Stephens said. There were no allegations of violence.

The court was told the man was charged with 88 initial counts of breaching a domestic violence order after he hurled abuse at the woman over the phone.

After that, he continued to contact her but pretended he was talking to someone else and was charged with another 120 breaches when he was caught.

The court was told he had blamed the woman for being in custody and demanded an apology from her, saying “if you have a problem with apologising, we have no future” and “if you want to see me again you better f----ing get down to (redacted) from parole”.

He also demanded money and abused the woman when he didn’t get it, demanded she sign a statement for him and demanded her support at his next court date.

“You piece of sh-t ... you haven’t sent me sh-t ... I need f---ing sh-t booked, you’ve left me here again, you and your dog,” the court was told he said.

Sergeant Stephens said it was “deplorable” conduct.

The man appeared via videolink in the Caloundra Magistrates Court on Tuesday, October 24, where he pleaded guilty to 208 charges of breaching a domestic violence order.

Defence lawyer Rowan King said the conversations were “emotionally controlling” but there was communication from both parties, though his client was only charged as he was subject to the order.

He said his client had a young daughter he had not seen in six years and has been working as a cabinet maker since he left school in year 10.

He also said there would be lots of work for his client to return to upon his release.

Mr King said his client had completed six weeks of the Men Choosing Change program before a return to prison warrant was issued for him, but he plans to continue with the program upon release.

The prison he was being held at had limited opportunities to rehabilitate men on domestic violence charges, Mr King said, and his client had tried multiple times to transfer to a different prison where these were offered.

In the meantime, he had completed a mindfulness course while in custody, Mr King said.

He told the court his client’s behaviour often came down to a negative thought process.

Drugs and alcohol were not factors in his offending, but he had been diagnosed with anxiety and high blood pressure and was seeking a diagnosis for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Mr King said.

Magistrate Catherine Benson said the man only stopped contacting the woman after he was caught and the phone numbers were removed.

The man was given a head sentence of 12 months behind bars but will be eligible for parole immediately.

Convictions were recorded.