Anthony Walker, 21, jailed for assault causing actual bodily harm after Ballina domestic violence attack
A North Coast man has faced justice after an appalling DV attack in which he used a makeshift leash to drag a woman by the neck into a supermarket as bystanders watched on in horror.
Police & Courts
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A North Coast man has been jailed after an appalling DV attack in which he used a makeshift leash to drag a woman by the neck into a supermarket as bystanders watched on in horror.
Anthony Walker, 21, was sentenced to eight months imprisonment in Ballina Court on May 17 after entering a guilty plea to assault causing actual bodily harm over the April 2 attack.
Police facts state Walker had been in a relationship with the victim, whose age was not given, for about eight months.
At the time of the assault, the pair has been living together at the Wardell pod village, temporary housing created in the aftermath of the 2022 North Coast floods, police facts state.
CCTV footage shows the pair walking through the carpark near Taco Bell and Coles on Fox St, Ballina at about 9pm on April 2.
Walker grabbed the woman’s neck with both hands for a few seconds and “wrapped a black hoodie around the victim’s neck and used it as a leash to drag her towards Coles”, police facts state.
“Walker (then) removed the hoodie (hooded jumper) from the victim’s neck and pressed his thumbs into her neck causing scratches.
A woman driving through the car park witnessed the shocking attack and beeped her horn to deter the attacker, in which he then fled for a short period of time.
Police facts state Walker yelled “f —k you” at the driver and attempted to enter her car, but was not successful. The witness subsequently called police.
The onslaught of abuse continued as the pair entered the Fox St Coles supermarket.
“Upon entering Coles, Walker grabbed the victim by the neck and continued hurling abuse and constantly got in the woman’s face,” police facts state.
Police facts then state the couple left the store and went to a nearby bus stop where an argument took place.
Walker punched the woman multiple times in the thigh and she fell to the ground. When she tried to stand, he kicked her back down.
The woman tried to defend herself and Walker ended up with a bruised cheek.
Another witness called police and officers found Walker and the woman in the Coles car park.
Police facts state Walker told officers he punched himself in the face, while the victim said they had both been physical towards each other.
“It was mainly me, I pushed him,” she said to police at the time.
The woman had a lump on her forehead, scratches on her neck and a bruised cheek.
The pair declined to make a further statement. At the scene, officers arrested the female victim rather than the man and took her to Ballina Police Station, police facts state.
However, court documents state “witnesses disputed the couple’s version of events and said Walker was attacking the victim and her actions were in self-defence”.
Police checked CCTV and determined Walker was in the wrong.
Officers released the woman, took photos of her injuries and arrested Walker at the pod village.
Walker initially denied all allegations.
He was on bail at the time of offending after pleading guilty to hindering or resisting police on New Year’s Eve 2023.
Police Prosecutor Tony Townsend previously opposed bail ahead of his May 17 sentencing.
“There were numerous witnesses, his history doesn’t assist, there’s a general lack of compliance and a custodial sentence is likely,” he told the court.
Defence lawyer Natasha Wood said Walker was a vulnerable young Aboriginal man.
“He has undiagnosed mental health issues and potentially some cognitive issues as a result of past trauma,” she told the court.
“He is fearful of the time he needs to spend in prison pending his sentencing.
“He acknowledges he breached some community correction orders he was on bail for … things would potentially be easier for him if there was supervision.”
She said an apprehended violence order was in place to protect the victim.
Magistrate Karen Stafford said the footage handed to the court depicted “significant violence”.
“The level of violence being shown and his noncompliance with a previous court order can’t mediate the risk if he’s granted bail,” she said.
Ms Stafford sentenced Walker to eight months in prison with a non-parole period of two months.
He has been placed on a 15-month community corrections order and must receive drug and alcohol treatment. A conviction has been recorded.
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