Blair Pettett, 36, threatens to kill girlfriend with a knife, breaks through window to get to her

A Toowoomba man who threatened and harassed his partner on multiple occasions has told a court he wants to be better for his ailing grandfather.

Blair David Gregory Pettett, 36, pleaded guilty to more than 20 charges including domestic violence offences and driving offences at Toowoomba Magistrates Court. Picture: Supplied.

A man who threatened his former partner with a knife, forcing her out of her home, has pleaded to be released from jail to prove his worth to his family.

Toowoomba man Blair David Gregory Pettett, 36, pleaded guilty to more than 20 charges including a slew of domestic violence and unsafe driving offences in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday after threatening to kill his former partner.

The court heard Pettett and the woman were arguing outside her Toowoomba home when he picked up a rock and threatened to break in.

The woman said Pettett was “scaring” her and to “stay away and leave (her) alone”.

Prosecution told the court he then tied a rope around his neck and climbed a tree, threatening to end his life before emergency responders arrived and escorted him to hospital.

They said Pettett returned later that day and further threatened his former partner, attempting to break into a backyard shed and smashing a window with his fist to get inside the home where the woman remained.

Prosecution said a temporary protection order was issued but Pettett returned a few weeks later, this time viciously slamming the woman’s head into the pavement while holding a knife and threatening her life.

“You’re going to have me sent to jail, shut the f*** up before I f***ing do it,” Pettett told the woman, the prosecution said.

Around three hours later, he again returned to torment the woman, this time, police said, chasing her down the street brandishing a knife and threatening to kill her if she returned to her home.

Prosecution added officers found Pettett’s victim cowering away from her abuser at a neighbour’s home while Pettett tried to hide among a pile of clothes in the woman’s residence.

The court heard Pettett had no history of domestic violence but prosecution warned there was a worrying “sudden escalation” in his offending.

Defence solicitor Matt Gemmell said Pettett suffered severe abuse at the hands of his own father and struggled with drug addiction which “framed (his) picture of the world”.

“In custody, he has had a burgeoning understanding of his traumatic responses to those memories that he has and he has a strong sense of an intention to attend upon a psychiatrist upon his eventual release,” Mr Gemmell said.

He added Pettett wanted an opportunity to show his grandfather, a man he admired, he could rehabilitate.

“(His grandfather) was the one masculine figure in his life who didn’t turn on him in a maladaptive way.

“After (previously) being released from custody (for unrelated offences) … his grandfather, he says, was a strong incentive for him – his words were that he straightened him out.”

“He’s told he’s not in good health and it’s my client’s strong intention to get out in the community so that he can show his grandfather that he can remain within community guidelines and acceptable behaviour.”

Magistrate Kay Ryan ordered him to serve 12 months imprisonment with immediate parole after serving 130 days in pre-sentence custody.

He was also disqualified from driving or holding a licence for two years and three months.

Originally published as Blair Pettett, 36, threatens to kill girlfriend with a knife, breaks through window to get to her