Jeremiah Johnston in Coffs court for contravening AVO, choking

A traffic controller didn’t know when to stop when he sent an avalanche of messages to a person he was supposed to leave alone.

Jeremiah Johnston pleaded guilty to contravening an apprehended violence order and intentionally choke person without consent when he appeared at Coffs Harbour Local Court on March 11, 2022.

A traffic controller didn’t know when to stop when he sent an avalanche of messages to a person he was supposed to leave alone.

Jeremiah Johnston, 41, of Coffs Harbour, faced Coffs Harbour Local Court on Friday where he was convicted on two counts of contravening an apprehended violence order and of intentionally choke a person without consent.

The court heard Mr Johnston had expressed his love and hate for the victim between October 1 and 6 last year.

It heard that came within 37 phone calls, 443 text messages and 22 voicemail messages.

Mr Johnston was on bail when he contacted the victim between December 26 and 27 - sending 127 text messages, an “astonishing number”, according to magistrate Ian Rodgers.

The latest offence occurred at a Urunga residence on January 27, when the court heard that Mr Johnston, who had been drinking alcohol, grabbed the victim by the throat and held her up against a doorway before leaving the home.

Defence lawyer Nicola Breward said her client had a limited criminal history and had taken positive steps since the most recent incident, including significantly reducing his alcohol consumption.

Mr Johnston pleaded guilty to all three offences and was sentenced to a 13-month intensive correction order.

He has also been ordered to serve 100 hours of community service.