Scared kids flee Proserpine home during domestic violence

Woman pushes back up against bedroom door to prevent husband getting in during fight.

Sad child, domestic violence, sex abuse concept. Generic picture from istock. No identification.

CHILDREN ran out of a Proserpine property looking scared and distressed, prompting a witness to call police during a domestic violence incident in the Whitsunday town.

Proserpine Magistrates Court heard that when police arrived, with neither of the parents anywhere to be found at the house, the witness said she also heard yelling and the sound of property being broken.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Emma Myors said police saw droplets of blood on the ground near the front door and started patrolling the streets, eventually finding the couple going for a walk and charged the man with contravening a domestic violence order.

Sgt Myors told the court that the pair had been married for 10 years and shared three children.

On the day of the incident they had been fighting after the woman accused her husband of looking at another woman, Sgt Myors said.

"There had been a verbal argument that ignited between the two with loud yelling and swearing," she said.

Police saw the man had a cut on his hand, which happened when the man tried to kick his way into a bedroom that his wife and two-year-old daughter had gone into during the argument.

"The aggrieved placed her back up against the door to prevent him entering, the door opened slightly and the defendant put his hand through the opening and the aggrieved pushed the door harder to stop him getting in, the door slammed shut and his finger got caught in the door and caused a significant cut," Sgt Myors said.

"Police believe the defendant's behaviour has not been good behaviour towards the aggrieved and he has exposed children to domestic violence during the incident."

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The Proserpine man pleaded guilty in Proserpine Magistrates Court yesterday to one count each of contravening a domestic violence order and breaching a probation order.

Sgt Myors said from the end of January his engagement in the probation order declined and numerous attempts had been made to re-engage the man.

He did re-engage in May.

Lawyer Chris Colwill, representing the 34-year-old man who cannot be named for legal reasons, explained there was a period when the man was homeless and then found accommodation with his wife, and acknowledged his engagement with probation had been sporadic.

But he has been engaged with Lives Lived Well to seek support for certain issues.

"He's offered no excuse or explanation that he's just engaged with that service and he seems to get on well with his supervisor," Mr Colwill said.

"Your honour will note from the letter from Lives Lived Well that they are covering a large number of areas …(the man) tells me there is also some anger management as well."

Acting Magistrate John Milburn noted the man had been engaged with Lives Lived Well, but implored him to also stay engaged with his probation order.

He scolded the Proserpine man for the impact of his actions on his family.

"You have caused a great deal of harm to your family psychologically as a result of your actions," Mr Milburn said.

"You must accept a considerable degree of responsibility for your own actions.

"It's clear that you are needed and they want you to perform, it's not acceptable to act in the way you did."

The man was fined $800 and his probation order was extended for 12 months.

Convictions were recorded for both offences.

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