Man fronts Warwick court after breaching domestic violence order, damaging other man’s car

A father who punched his ex-partner’s neighbour during a heated altercation and tried to pick a fight with another man he ‘extremely disliked’ has blamed substance abuse and stress for the violent outbursts.

A Warwick man has claimed substance abuse and emotional stress fuelled a series of violent outbursts towards the mother of his children and another man he “extremely disliked”.

The 21-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, went to a Warwick house to find his ex-partner visiting her neighbour at about 11.30pm on December 23.

Warwick Magistrates Court heard the man stood in front of the woman and ordered her to get out of the other person’s house, at which the woman backed further into the house while telling him he couldn’t tell her what to do as they were no longer in a relationship.

Police prosecutor Steve de Lissa said the intoxicated man then grabbed a nearby broom, which his ex immediately pulled away from him in fear, before turning his anger on the woman’s neighbour.

“He went into the neighbour’s house and physically assaulted him by punching him, and was then pulled off and held down by the aggrieved,” Sergeant de Lissa said.

Officers searched the man at the scene and found 2.7g of marijuana in his pocket.

The Warwick court heard the intimidation towards his ex-partner and altercation at her neighbour’s house breached the domestic violence order in place.

It was only weeks later on January 7 that the man again got into an alcohol-fuelled altercation, this time targeting a man sitting in a parked car with his child while dropping off a friend.

Sergeant de Lissa said the man had an “extreme dislike” for his target and threw a glass stubby at the other man’s car, cracking the windscreen and causing $275 in damage.

“The defendant admitted to having a vague recollection of damaging the vehicle. He said he was grossly affected by liquor and he was sorry for his actions,” he said.

“It seems to me, I would suggest, there’s the likelihood of substance abuse there continuing and it’s obviously creating this type of offending.”

The Warwick man had faced court previously for breaching a domestic violence order and drug-related offences.

Defence lawyer Amber Acreman said her client was using marijuana and excessive alcohol to cope with the emotional stress of the recent separation from his ex-partner, lack of access to his young children, and the death of his grandmother a few months earlier.

“He has a very limited, sketchy memory of the incidents due to his level of intoxication,” Ms Acreman said.

“He was feeling generally lost, and he’s been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and (post-traumatic stress disorder) for some issues he experienced as a teenager.”

She said the man was now focused on his rehabilitation and spending more time with his children, aged one and two.

The man pleaded guilty to one count each of contravening a domestic violence order, possessing dangerous drugs, and wilful damage.

He was placed on probation for 18 months and ordered to pay full restitution along with a $350 fine.