Deception Bay dad behind bars after sending more than 100 threatening text messages
A southeast Queensland dad with a “shocking history” of domestic violence has been locked up after sending more than 100 threatening text messages to his ex-partner over two days.
Moreton
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A Deception Bay man who threatened to flog his ex-partner’s head in if she didn’t answer his calls has been locked up after breaching a domestic violence protection order.
The man in his 40s, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in Redcliffe Magistrates Court via video link from the watch house on July 22 and pleaded guilty to two counts of contravening a domestic violence order.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Tim Clare told the court that a protection order prohibited the defendant from contacting his former partner, unless it was in relation to their children.
Sgt Clare said on July 10 the defendant sent 35 text messages to the woman.
“Some were in relation to the children then they started to become threatening and there were threats of self-harm,” Sgt Clare told the court.
“He sent a message and a photo of a noose saying ‘I hope you are happy’.
“He also sent a voicemail saying: ‘Not answering my calls makes me angrier, I’m going to flog your head in’.”
The following day the defendant sent a further 79 text messages and made 63 phone calls to the victim.
Police arrested and charged the defendant on July 19.
The court heard the man was on a suspended jail sentence for breaches of domestic violence orders when he committed these offences.
Magistrate Mark Bucknall said, after reading through court documents, the defendant had a “shocking history” in relation to breaches of domestic violence orders.
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He noted that in the past threats of self-harm were not considered to be an act of domestic violence.
“Parliament specifically changed the legislation to make that an act of domestic violence,” Magistrate Bucknall said.
“It is an extreme act of controlling behaviour, it is him exerting his control over her (saying) ‘if you don’t do what I’m telling you to do this is what I’m going to do and you can live with the consequences’.”
Magistrate Bucknall sentenced the man to four months on each breach offence, to be served concurrently.
He also activated the three-month suspended sentence and ordered that to be served on top of the four months.
He set a parole release date for September 18.
*For 24-hour domestic violence support call the national hotline 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or MensLine on 1800 600 636.