Duncan Dean in Coffs Harbour court after victim loses eye

A man’s partner heard a “pop” and there was extensive bleeding from her left eye, which had to be removed, after he threw a piece of wood at her. What followed was equally disturbing.

Duncan Dean leaves Coffs Harbour Local Court after being sentenced for reckless grievous bodily harm and stalk / intimidate.

A man who threw a small piece of ornamental wood at his then girlfriend causing her to lose an eye has narrowly avoided being sent to jail.

Demolitions worker Duncan Dean had pleaded guilty to recklessly cause grievous bodily harm and stalk intimidate when he appeared in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Friday, February 11.

The court was told that Dean and his then partner had an argument on October 29, 2015, and that he threw part of a wooden necklace tree which hit the victim in the face.

Dean’s partner heard a “pop” and there was extensive bleeding from her left eye - which despite medical treatment had to be removed.

Three years later Dean, of Urunga, and the victim - who had separated - were involved in an argument about finances at a Toormina home.

The court heard on that occasion Dean said “You are lucky there is nothing around to throw at you” - which gave rise to the intimidate charge.

Magistrate Ian Rodgers said the actions of Dean had permanently changed the victim’s life.

“It’s a severe injury and that’s an understatement,” Mr Rodgers said.

The subsequent intimidation of the woman - who read a victim impact statement to the court - displayed “a pure level of nastiness”, Mr Rodgers said.

The prosecution argued that Dean had an inability to deal with conflict in a domestic relationship, and that a full-time custodial sentence was warranted.

Dean’s lawyer Todd Ritchie said his client “has apologised repeatedly” to the victim - and while he was now aged 25 he was 19 at the time of the reckless grievous bodily harm incident.

Mr Ritchie said Dean had been consistently in stable employment and argued that a sentence of an intensive correction order was suitable.

Dean was sentenced to a two-year intensive correction order.

He was also ordered to perform 300 hours of community service.