Man’s baffling reason for DVO breach exposed in Warwick court

The court has heard the bizarre reason a man breached a domestic violence order by harassing his former partner across 17 voice messages.

A man breaching a domestic violence order has claimed he was trying to “save” a former partner, as he left her a barrage of abusive voice messages over $50.

The Queensland man – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – appeared in Warwick Magistrates Court for breaching a DVO and using a carriage service to menace or harass.

He initially attempted to plead guilty “while under duress”, to which Magistrate Janice Crawford told him there is no such thing.

After a significant back and forth, the man pleaded guilty to the two charges.

Prosecutor Sgt Steve de Lissa told the court the man arrived at the woman’s Warwick address on May 1, despite knowing he was prohibited to contact her in any form.

It is understood the man had been seeking the repayment of $50 he lent to the woman.

The man was asked to leave, and the woman revoked consent for contact, to which he responded by sending 17 voice messages in a matter of hours.

The self-professed “former cowboy” called into the courtroom without legal representation and did not appear physically.

“Give me my money you f---ing d---head,” and “I’ll yell out all night and you’ll get no sleep,” Sgt de Lissa said as he recounted the messages left on the woman’s phone.

“The man turned up to the address again while (the woman) was gone, and began banging on the window,” Sgt de Lissa said.

Police arrived a short time later and saw the man was leaving a voice message, before he was arrested and charged.

The court heard the pair had an “on and off relationship over years” and despite not being together were still friendly.

The man told the court he had came to “save her”.

“I’ve done what I’ve done, and I’ll cop it,” he said.

The man said he had blocked her number and moved to the other side of the state, putting a distance of more than 2000km between the pair.

“I did do something I shouldn’t have done, under duress, so I’ll cop it sweet and I don’t want anything to do with her because she’s a very dangerous woman,” he said.

Ms Crawford said the incident was “an argument about money and you were seeking that she returned the money owed. I accept that.”

She said she gave credit to the man for moving away from the tense situation and getting away from the “troubles in his path in Warwick”.

The man was fined $250 for breaching the DVO.

For the carriage charge he was released on a $250 good behaviour bond, which will hang over his head for six months.

Convictions were recorded.