Young Redland Bay father attacks his 17-week pregnant partner in potentially ‘catastrophic’ event

A grave warning has been given to a young father following his “significant, serious, protracted” attack on his pregnant partner.

A young father who grabbed his 17-week pregnant partner by the throat while she was driving and continued the assault later in the day, has been warned by a magistrate that his actions could have had a “catastrophic effect” on his life.

Appearing at Cleveland Magistrates Court today Rhys Royston Young, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning harm (domestic violence offence).

In what Acting Magistrate Leanne Scoines called a “significant, serious and somewhat protracted” attack on a pregnant woman, the court heard Redland Bay man Young initiated his attack on the morning of January 25 last year.

Having lost his licence Young was being driven by his partner when an argument turned violent.

The court heard the defendant called his then partner a “b***h” and a “c**t” and grabbed her by the throat.

Young’s victim, the court was told, hit him with a “back-fist” during the on-road incident.

Acting Magistrate Scoines warned the ugly event also “put the community at risk”.

Young, a tyre fitter with qualifications in landscaping, would continue his assault later that day at the then couple’s residence.

The court heard after being asked to leave the property, he pushed his victim in the chest and slammed her arm in a door.

The bruised woman would present at hospital with what a police prosecutor called “a significant injury to a pregnant victim”.

The court heard Young, who was disqualified from driving at the time of the offence, had previously been sentenced for dangerous driving.

Defence solicitor Sarah Pascoe said her client had “some criminal history” on his record, had not reoffended since the incident and was “incredibly remorseful for his behaviour”.

With a “prison sentence in range” Acting Magistrate Scoines left the young man with little doubt as to the seriousness of his offence.

“You need to get it straight that domestic violence is utterly wrong,” Acting Magistrate Scoines said after viewing images of his bruised victim.

“There is no evidence that you do it anywhere else in your life.

“You are very lucky (that something worse had not occurred).

“It could have had a catastrophic effect on your life.”

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Having acknowledged his “impressive references” the magistrate sentenced Young to 12 months’ probation.

No conviction was recorded.