Outrage at paltry penalty for wealthy domestic violence brute

Victim support groups have slammed a judge’s decision to slash the sentence of millionaire Phillip De Angelis, convicted of viciously beating his former partner Nellie Tilley.

• Angelis escapes jail and home detention after appeal
• Phillip de Angelis jailed in luxury beachfront unit

Victim support groups have slammed a judge’s decision to slash the sentence of a millionaire convicted of viciously beating his former partner.

Phillip De Angelis was out and about near his Bondi home yesterday after being told by a judge he will only have to do weekend community service for breaking into the apartment of his ex, well known interior designer Nellie Tilley, and attacking her.

De Angelis pleaded guilty to five charges of domestic violence, including reckless wounding and common assault.

Phillip De Angelis out in Bondi yesterday. Picture: John Grainger

MORE NEWS

Anti-vaxxers now claim shots give pets autism

Deaf mum takes out NSW Mother of the Year

$530 tax offset boost in Budget for millions of Aussies

One victim’s advocate said reducing his sentence showed contempt for “those that have the bravery to come forward” and the NSW Attorney-General has also demanded answers.

Mark Speakman said he wanted to know why the 38-year-old son of hotelier Arch De Angelis’s sentence was cut from 18 months home detention and being ordered to wear an ankle bracelet to just 750 community hours service over two years.

Nellie Tilley said she had been scarred for life.

“Under reforms implemented by the NSW government in late 2017, there is a presumption that courts sentence domestic violence offenders to imprisonment or a supervised community-based sentence,” Mr Speakman said yesterday.

“I have sought further details on this matter and have requested the transcripts of the Local Court sentence and District Court appeal which I will review.”

Last year Local Court magistrate Philip Stewart called it a “cowardly, disgraceful” campaign of abuse against Ms Tilley for which “no penalty other than imprisonment is appropriate”.

Mr Stewart last year ruled De Angelis — a cousin of Bachelorette star Stu Laundy — was suitable for home detention, meaning he could serve a 12-month sentence inside his multimillion-dollar waterfront apartment at Bondi Beach.

De Angelis was sentenced to home detention at his luxury Bondi apartment.

And last Friday in the District Court Judge Sharon Norton slashed De Angelis’s original sentence — a move blasted by victim advocates.

“Weekend detention for attacking and assaulting a partner, male or female is not a deterrent,'' Howard Brown said. “Often victims have to trade away charges so that they can reduce the trauma of a lengthy and protracted court case. It's a double discount for the guilty.”

Karen Willis, executive officer at Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia, said it was a disgrace that De Angelis was out walking the streets.

“This woman has suffered abuse at the hands of someone who is rich and powerful,’’ Ms Willis said.

“You would hope that as a victim you would get support from the judicial system which has not happened. “If you went down the road and randomly assaulted five people or broke into a home and assaulted someone you would be jailed.”

When contacted yesterday Ms Tilley would not comment on Mr Speakman's decision to review the case.

“I only pursued the matter to finally feel safe and for other women of domestic violence,” she said. “I only hope that Friday’s appeal decision does not diminish that goal.’’

As well as the community service, De Angelis was sentenced last Friday to new community corrections and intensive corrections orders which prevent him drinking, taking drugs and mandating his rehabilitation for the next two years.