Meth abusing tree lopper jailed for assault on former partner

Multiple suspended jail sentences did little to halt a meth abuser’s assault on a woman he previously threatened with a knife, a court has heard.

A tree lopper’s horror history of violence against women has continued with another disgusting attack, despite being on two suspended jail sentences.

Kappie Maurice Cloudy, 36, from Marsden merely nodded throughout his sentencing at Beenleigh Magistrates Court today (January 5).

The Torres Strait Islands man pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm (domestic violence offence), wilful damage (domestic violence offence) and other charges.

The court heard the father of one on September 28 last year brutalised a former partner by striking her with a thrown piece of timber.

A photograph showing the damage suffered by the woman was tendered to the court.

Additional images tendered showed damage Cloudy caused to a roller door on the same day.

The court heard the defendant had a history of violent offending towards former partners who wanted rid of him.

He was previously sentenced to two suspended jail sentences for similar offending: Police prosecutor Sergeant Donna Kay said the man on August 25 last year held a knife to the same woman’s throat.

On that day he also set fire to a property while claiming to look for the woman.

He had also been previously sentenced to probation for violent acts against another former partner.

The defence said their client’s offending was driven by a daily meth habit from which he was clean after serving 84 days in pre-sentence custody.

Cloudy had struggled of late due to a lack of cultural connection with his family in north Queensland and the Torres Strait Islands, according to the defence.

Acting magistrate Patrick Murphy deemed the offending serious and noted the man had a clear problem letting go of former partners.

Cloudy was sentenced to 12 months’ prison and had his two suspended jail sentences activated.

With 84 days pre-sentence custody served declared he was given a January 31 parole date.