Toowoomba man Joseph Douglas McDonald pleads guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, common assault after two-day dad attack
A court has heard the stress of running a small business was the reason a Toowoomba tradie brutally bashed his dad over two consecutive days.
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A Toowoomba man has been sentenced after a terrifying assault left his own father in hospital, with the judge slamming the offender as having “no justification” for his actions.
Joseph Douglas McDonald pleaded guilty to two charges relating to the “confronting” attack, including assault occasioning bodily harm and common assault in Warwick District Court on Thursday.
McDonald, 38, was living with his father and working as a handyman in the Stanthorpe area in October 2022 when the offence occurred.
The court heard on October 17 McDonald “abused and threatened” his father, before grabbing his forearm and squeezing it “so hard it bruised” after returning home from work.
But the abuse was not limited to that occasion.
On October 18, McDonald returned to the house and launched a series of violent attacks on his father, including holding his throat.
Defence lawyer Jessica Goldie said the handyman’s business had caused him a “financial strain” which caused him to move in with his father prior to offending.
“He was under stress of running his own business which caused him to snap,” Ms Goldie said.
Ms Goldie noted the man had taken “steps for positive rehabilitation.”
McDonald is now employed as a construction worker in Toowoomba.
Judge Terry Gardiner referred to the matter as “consecutive days of attack” on the man’s father and said it was a “serious assault, with the dad admitted to hospital” following the assault.
“This is not the first time you’ve been in front of the court for offences of violence,” Mr Gardiner said.
“There is no justification to raise your hand at your father just because you’ve had a bad day at work.”
McDonald was sentenced to a total of 12 months in prison, and immediately released on parole.
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Originally published as Toowoomba man Joseph Douglas McDonald pleads guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, common assault after two-day dad attack
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