‘Victims will be heard’: Warwick’s shocking DV offenders named and shamed - list

With the Warwick community battling a skyrocketing number of reported domestic violence offences, the patterns behind the insidious crimes and some of their worst perpetrators can now be revealed. FULL REPORT HERE:

Domestic violence has long been one of the most prevalent and insidious crimes plaguing the Warwick community, with the latest shocking offenders sentenced in court mirroring an alarming spike in DV reports within the past 12 months.

Women account for nearly 80 per cent of domestic violence victims requiring court protection in Queensland, with external pressures such as lockdowns during the Covid pandemic driving a huge increase in the number of new domestic violence orders created.

Warwick police acting officer-in-charge Sergeant Cameron Slater says this trend had shown no signs of slowing down within the region.

He said the number of DVO contraventions, police protection notice applications, and referrals to external DV or counselling agencies recorded in the 2021-22 financial year had all nearly doubled from the previous year.

“Just anecdotally, I don’t think there’s been any increase in the level of violence, but just an increase in incidents across the board,” Sergeant Slater said.

“I think (Covid) probably has something to do with it. I also think we’ve seen domestic violence get a fair bit of prominence in the media and there’s been some high-profile inquiries going on in the past 12 months.

“We’ve seen our Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner make statements, and I think it is a possibility that victims are more confident in contacting police and that they will be heard.”

Warwick’s leading advocates for change and domestic violence survivors have long called for better support for victims once they do come forward, including more safe houses for those escaping their attacker, counselling services, and stronger legal consequences to break the cycle of abuse.

Sergeant Slater agreed that it would require action from all agencies within the domestic violence system to bring perpetrators to justice and stop serial offenders from striking again, but said the most important first step was for victims to come forward.

“It’s all about the victims’ safety. Some may be more comfortable speaking to external agencies first and seeking help that way, but we would definitely encourage them to call the police or come to the police station,” he said.

“Whatever they’re comfortable with, just come to us and then we can take action from there.

“They can be confident that if they come forward, we will take the complaint seriously and take action in each situation.”

A number of shocking domestic violence offenders have been sentenced in Warwick courts within the past 12 months, from a man who smothered his partner while she screamed “I can’t breathe” to a man who knocked his girlfriend unconscious when she tried to end their relationship.

See the most notable cases below:

Hayden Peter Mortlock

A former Warwick man walked free from court after pleading guilty to a series of violent assaults on the mother of his child, including choking her and smothering her while she begged him to stop.

An argument broke out between Hayden Peter Mortlock and his partner at their home one night in September, 2020, with the man yelling at the woman and hurling a shoe at her face after she threw his clothes onto the driveway.

The Warwick District Court heard it was only hours later as the couple were getting ready for bed that Mortlock shoved his victim with his shoulder as he walked past, knocking her over and causing her to hit her ribs on the bed frame.

Hayden Peter Mortlock, 24, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm and choking in Warwick District Court. Picture: Facebook

Crown prosecutor Bernard Berger said the 25-year-old’s most violent assault took place on the morning of December 28 that same year, when his partner was woken up by a text from her boss and Mortlock accused her of hiding messages on her phone.

The pair argued until Mortlock leapt onto the bed and put both hands around his victim’s neck, holding his grip for about 30 seconds before using his right hand to grab a pillow and use it to smother her.

The court was told the woman frantically tried to escape, clawing at her attacker’s sides and screaming “I can’t breathe” until he stopped.

Mortlock pleaded guilty to one count each of choking and assault occasioning bodily harm.

He was sentenced to three years’ jail with immediate release on parole.

FULL STORY HERE

Matthew Mark Rouen

A serial domestic violence offender was sentenced to more than two years behind bars after suffocating and strangling his partner in a series of frightening attacks.

Matthew Mark Rouen assaulted his then-partner during an argument in May last year, where he put his hands over his victim’s mouth and nose and left her unable to breathe.

The 33-year-old unleashed another two assaults on the woman in December that year, first grabbing her by the throat and choking her until she couldn’t breathe, then pulling her hair and shoving her into a bed frame.

The Warwick District Court was told Rouen had a history of domestic violence, and in 2019 was convicted of pushing in the neck of his former partner.

Judge Dennis Lynch slammed the Stanthorpe man’s conduct, saying research had shown such violent offending could be a precursor to domestic homicide and demanded a tough approach within the court system.

“We all understand how common (domestic violence) is in the community, and the community has more recently made efforts to try to deal with that problem,” he said.

Rouen pleaded guilty to one count each of suffocation and strangulation in a domestic setting, assault occasioning bodily harm, and common assault.

He was sentenced to two and a half years’ jail, with a parole release date set for August 23, 2022.

FULL STORY HERE

Jack Baker

A man who violently attacked his girlfriend in frightening assaults just days apart was sentenced in the Warwick court to jail.

Jack Baker and his partner were at a family home in Inglewood in December last year when he suddenly told the woman she was a “sl-t” and made other derogatory comments towards her, then spat on her face and hair.

Police prosecutor Steve de Lissa told the Warwick Magistrates Court that Baker followed the woman inside when she tried to get away, punching her in the arm and threatening to hit her again before kicking her in the leg.

It was less than two weeks later that the 22-year-old again assaulted his partner, this time while the couple were having sex in their own home.

Baker told his girlfriend, “You feel like a loose sl-t”, then used a cushion to pummel the woman about 10 times, jarring her finger when he continued to hit her after she put up her hands to protect her face.

The court was told Baker was serving a suspended sentence at the time of the attacks, and had previously received other jail terms for similar offending.

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess said the man’s concerning criminal history showed a pattern of domestic violence towards several women.

“This is not the first time you have engaged in domestic abuse, and it won’t be the last unless you do something to address it,” she said.

“You are making a choice. You are making a choice to use violence towards your partners that you would not use in your workplace.”

Baker pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm.

He was sentenced to 15 months’ jail with eligibility for parole from June this year.

FULL STORY HERE

Kim Timothy Neville Appleton

A man who smashed his girlfriend’s face into a wall and knocked her unconscious after she tried to end their relationship was sentenced in the Warwick court to months behind bars.

Kim Timothy Neville Appleton and his then-partner were together at a Morningside home in July last year when an argument broke out between the pair, ending when the woman walked out of the house but left behind her clothing and other belongings.

Appleton then shredded the clothing with scissors, saying when he was later interviewed by police that he was so angry and frustrated after the fight that “(he) wanted to hurt her”.

Warwick Magistrates Court heard the 35-year-old’s violence escalated the next day after another argument about the shredded clothing, which led to the woman breaking up with Appleton.

The man then walked up behind the woman while she was bent over picking up her bag and shoved her head into a wall so forcefully that she was knocked out for about 15 seconds.

Police and paramedics arrived at the scene to find Appleton’s victim with a bloody nose, bruising around her left eye and forehead, and broken glasses still stuck to her face, with her injuries requiring hospital treatment.

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess said the man’s criminal history revealed a significant pattern of violence, none of which could be excused by his struggle with transience and substance abuse.

“Those who are in intimate relationships with you deserve to be protected from you when you resort to violence,” she said.

Appleton pleaded guilty to 21 charges including assault occasioning bodily harm.

He was sentenced to two years and 11 months’ jail, with eligibility for parole from February 24, 2023.

FULL STORY HERE

Geoffrey Robert Close

A man narrowly avoided jail time after repeatedly punching his former girlfriend in the head and then grabbing her by the throat in a terrifying assault.

Geoffrey Robert Close punched his victim twice on either side of the head during an argument with his partner at the time at a Chermside home in September last year.

The 41-year-old then put his hands around her neck, only releasing his victim when she told him the police had been called.

Warwick Magistrates Court was told Close was arrested at the scene on other matters and later charged over the assault, with his violent conduct only coming to light after the woman was forced to seek medical treatment for ongoing pain she was suffering due to her injuries.

Defence lawyer Hamish Chapman said Close was no longer in a relationship with the woman, but his history of domestic violence and substance abuse meant he would likely need significant support in rehabilitation.

Close pleaded guilty to a total of six offences, including one count of common assault.

He was sentenced to nine months’ jail with immediate release on parole and fined $600.

FULL STORY HERE