Clinton Peter Stelzer jailed in Coffs Harbour for stalking, assault

A Coffs Harbour man, who was shot in the face six years ago in a drive-by, has been jailed for stalking and intimidating his ex-partner.

A Coffs Harbour man who made terrifying threats against his ex-partner has been sentenced to three months in jail.

Clinton Peter Stelzer had been in custody since July 30 when he appeared in Coffs Harbour court via audio visual link on Friday.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of common assault and two charges of stalk/intimidate intend fear of physical harm.

Clinton Stelzer appeared via audio visual link in Coffs Harbour court on Friday and was sentenced to three months in jail.

The charges were in relation to two separate incidents on April 27 and May 1 this year.

Stelzer wept as Magistrate Ian Rodgers outlined the details of one of the assaults, in which Stelzer’s ex-partner was pushed to the floor resulting in bruising on her arm.

She tried to flee out a window but he held her by the wrist saying: “If you keep going I will cave your skull in” and threatened to burn the furniture.

In his defence, lawyer John Hennessy said Stelzer had been shot in the face six years ago during a drive-by and had sustained serious injuries and had been seeing a psychologist for many years and self-medicated with drugs and alcohol.

A bricklayer by trade, Covid-19 has also impacted on his ability to find work, Mr Hennessy said.

But Mr Rodgers said there could be no alternative to jail time for the two charges of stalk and intimidate in which he was clearly attempting to “control somebody else’s behaviour”.

He sentenced Stelzer to three months in jail.

In relation to the two charges of common assault he was given an 18-month community correction order starting on September 17.

While this was a lesser penalty, Mr Rodgers told the court “any form of domestic violence is serious”.