Andrew Loughnan fined $1500 for family violence

An IT manager has been suspended from his job at a Geelong high school after he shot a gel blaster in the direction of a woman in an “appalling” attack.

Andrew Loughnan appeared in the Geelong Magistrates' Court.

An IT manager has been suspended from his job at a Geelong high school after he shot a gel blaster in the direction of a woman in an “appalling” attack.

Ocean Grove’s Andrew Loughnan, 57, pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday to possessing an imitation firearm, assault with a weapon and a family violence charge.

Loughnan has worked as a computer services manager at Newtown Catholic boys’ school St Joseph’s College for 24 years.

Principal Tony Paatsch said the college was aware of a court case involving a member of staff.

“We cannot comment on the details for legal reasons, but we can confirm that the staff member has been suspended pending the outcome of a review of the matter,’ Mr Paatsch said.

On January 20, Loughnan was at his home on the rear patio with the victim, police prosecutor Senior Constable James French said.

Constable French said Loughnan was unlawfully in possession of a gel blaster, and had begun shooting the weapon past his victim.

The court heard the victim told Loughnan to stop and believed he was going to shoot her with the imitation firearm.

The following day Loughnan had a verbal argument with the woman and then poured water over her.

Constable French said the victim contacted a support service who contacted triple-0 on her behalf.

Police later arrived and arrested Loughnan and also confiscated his gel blaster.

Magistrate John Lesser said Loughnan “behaved appalling” and “frightened the hell” out of the victim.

“The context of the offending would have been frightening for anyone,” Mr Lesser said.

Loughnan represented himself in court and said he was no longer in a relationship with the woman.

He told the court he purchased the gel blaster while he was holidaying in Queensland (where it is legal to have a gel blaster) and was unaware the rules were different in Victoria.

Mr Lesser placed Loughnan on a community corrections order without conviction for 12 months.

He also fined Loughnan $1500 and said he took into account the early guilty plea.

“This is the first substantive family matter you have been sentenced to,” he said.

“It is important to understand family violence matters crank up very quickly, I don’t want to see you back here for obvious reasons.”

As part of the corrections order he will have to undertake treatment and rehabilitation for drugs and alcohol and will also have to take part in a mens behaviour change program.

Originally published as Andrew Loughnan fined $1500 for family violence