Decade of ‘atrocious’ abuse revealed in heartbreaking Brisbane family tragedy
‘Your children deserved more’: A Brisbane father of four has been sent to jail for 18 months after pleading guilty to breaching a domestic violence order for the 14th time.
North
Don't miss out on the headlines from North. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The heartbreaking story of a decade-long family tragedy unfolded at the Sandgate Magistrates Court on Wednesday, when a father of four was sentenced to 18 months in jail for repeated breaches of a domestic violence protection order.
The 42-year-old Zillmere man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to breaching a DVO for the 13th and 14th time on the 12th and 13th of July, when he caused both physical and psychological distress to his partner of 12 years and the mother of his children.
READ MORE
Teen banned for life after destructive coke binge at the Eatons Hill Hotel
Two men denied bail after allegedly leading police on dangerous car chase through North Lakes
The court heard the man suffered a debilitating methamphetamine addiction and a propensity to abuse the prescription drug valium, which he blamed for his “disgusting” and abusive actions.
Police prosecutor Troy Newman told the court the man got into a verbal argument with his partner over his valium use, which quickly escalated to him calling her a slut and a c--t.
The man pushed the woman, forcing their 10-year-old daughter to intervene to protect her mother.
When police arrived, the man told them he didn’t think he did anything wrong.
The next day, the man sent text messages to the woman, telling her he’d sliced open his wrists and had to be taken to hospital, where he was treated and released.
“Oops, you broke me,” the text messages read, alongside a picture of the bloodied arm.
“You can tell the kids you killed their dad.”
The man had an “atrocious” history of like-offending dating back to 2010, and had undergone both probation, parole, and prison time.
“He cannot be deterred from this kind of offending,” Sgt Newman said.
“He simply doesn’t follow court orders.”
This time, the offending occurred just three weeks after the man was released on parole.
Magistrate Jennifer Batts said his repeated breaches were “incredibly disturbing”.
“It’s most concerning that four children, aged now between five and 14, have lived their whole lives with the effects of domestic violence,” she said.
“That is something that is not easily undone.
“The level of tragedy in this is hard to overstate.
“Your children deserve far more.”
For the two counts of breaching a DVO and one count of breaching parole, the man was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and will be eligible for parole on January 20.