Nursery worker Bevan Slater pleads guilty to assaulting, choking woman at Tewantin

A Sunshine Coast plant nursery worker was on ice when he subjected a woman to a ferocious night of horror involving multiple headbutts, choking, restraining and threats to kill her.

Bevan Gordon Karl Slater appeared in the Maroochydore District Court on Friday while in custody. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A Tewantin nursery worker has been jailed for a horrifically violent attack where he assaulted and strangled a woman, forcing her to flee for help.

Bevan Gordon Karl Slater told his lawyers in Maroochydore District Court on Friday that he was “broken-hearted” he jeopardised his family or the “only good thing” he had going for him.

Judge Glen Cash told the 38-year-old, who pleaded guilty to seven offences including choking, serious assault and assault while armed, he was “sceptical” of Slater’s remorse due to the ferocity of the attack.

Slater pleaded guilty to seven charges in Maroochydore District Court on Friday. Picture: Patrick Woods

Crown prosecutor Rhys Byrne said the pair was at their Tewantin home on January 7 last year when the woman asked Slater to leave because he was drunk.

When she went to have a cigarette outside, the 38-year-old hit her with a packed bag that caused her to fall backwards and graze her shin.

The victim left the home for a few hours and when she returned Slater was furious due to a phone not working.

Mr Byrne said Slater smashed a mug before he grabbed the victim by her hair, kneed her in the leg and pushed her into the couch.

Slater then repeatedly headbutted the woman before he squeezed her throat and said he was “going to kill her” and how he’d be “back for her”.

Once the Tewantin man released his grip she fell onto the floor and cut her leg on smashed pieces of ceramic.

The woman suffered swelling to her face and neck as well as a concussion from the assault. Photo: iStock

He restrained her while he was on top until she stopped resisting and he finally let go.

Mr Byrne said the woman fled and called police but could not drive far due to the injuries she suffered from the brutal assault, which included swelling around her face and neck, a concussion and a cut to her knee.

The court heard Slater violently resisted arrest from police when they arrived at his home and punched an officer.

Slater has been in custody for almost 15 months since his arrest.

Defence barrister James Feeley said Slater was “ashamed” of his behaviour and felt “broken hearted” he let down his family.

Judge Cash said he was sure Slater regretted his actions due to him being in jail for 15 months.

Mr Feeley said Slater was born in Toowoomba and was a promising footy player in his younger years who was also employed in multiple jobs in his life, but more recently worked at a nursery in Eumundi.

His barrister said that Slater was using meth for a time but quit the drug for several years until the night of the offending where he smoked with a friend.

Judge Cash labelled the attack as “extremely serious” and jailed Slater for three years.

His parole release date was set for April 10, citing the 453 days he spent in custody.