Daniel O’Neil: Hunter man guilty of driving offences, but denies bashing ex-partner at Ballina on North Coast

A Hunter man has pleaded guilty to drink driving, caving in a car windscreen and hopping behind the wheel unlicensed on the North Coast – but denies brutally bashing a woman.

O’Neil has pleaded guilty to drink driving, but denied bashing his ex.

A Hunter man has pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, caving in a car windscreen and hopping behind the wheel unlicensed on the North Coast – but denies brutally bashing his ex.

Daniel O’Neil allegedly choked the woman and punched her in the head and body up to six times, Ballina Local Court heard.

The 34-year-old Lake Macquarie man has pleaded guilty to damaging property, driving intoxicated and driving without a licence, but he has pleaded not guilty to common assault and choking.

O’Neil entered pleas over videolink from custody on remand on Thursday.

The woman and O’Neil had been in a relationship for about six months when they were travelling through West Ballina in a Nissan X-Trail on February 10.

Police allege the woman locked herself in the car during an argument because she was frightened.

The victim locked herself in her car because she was scared of O’Neil, the court was told.

It’s claimed by police O’Neil demanded the woman leave the car, chased her around and pushed her against a fence before putting “his hand around the victim’s throat”. and squeezing.

“She wasn’t able to breathe, but remained conscious,” police allege.

O’Neil allegedly told the woman: “If you ever do that again I will kill you” before the pair got back in the car and the defendant began driving erratically.

When the woman asked O’Neil to pull over, it’s alleged he punched the windshield and exclaimed: “You don’t tell me what to do.”

The court was told O’Neil apologised to the woman and they went to Cawarra Park Boat Ramp, where he downed whisky.

O’Neil punched the woman’s car windscreen. Picture: File

The pair ended up back in the car travelling down River St, with the violence allegedly flaring up again.

“O’Neil punched the victim five times in the head and once in the ribs,” police allege.

A witness dialled triple-0 and police intercepted the car near the Big Prawn tourist attraction.

The woman told police her version of events and O’Neil was breath tested. He returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.095, almost two times the legal limit.

He was found to be unlicensed and taken to Ballina Police Station, where he was initially granted bail with strict conditions.

Police intercepted the car at the Big Prawn, West Ballina.

Police allege in court documents officers spotted O’Neil lifting the door handles of parked cars and that he failed to report to police.

Taken to the station, O’Neil told officers he was homeless, police state.

Defence lawyer Emma Dakin suggested an apprehended violence order (AVO) be put in place to protect the victim.

Police prosecutor Val Short told the court it was the second time O’Neil has been charged with similar drink driving and he had a criminal record in Queensland.

The case was adjourned to June 21.