Man hit toddler after ‘missing’ mother during drunken outburst, court hears

He assaulted a one-year-old and threatened to take another victim “hostage” during a violent chain of events.

A court has heard how a violent chain of events led to the shocking assault of a toddler at the hands of a 32-year-old man.

The Coffs Harbour man, who cannot be named, appeared in the glass dock for sentencing at Coffs Harbour Local Court on Monday after pleading guilty to two charges of common assault and one of intimidation.

His lawyer told Magistrate Ian Rodgers that the man was heavily intoxicated at the time and could only remember “bits and pieces” of the incident which unfolded on June 16.

The court heard he was at the home of his on-and-off partner who he had recently reunited with. Four children and another adult male were also present.

The adult male victim had contacted police with concerns over the offender’s drunken behaviour, and in response the offender grabbed a kitchen knife.

The offender threatened the man that he was going to hold him “hostage”, it was heard.

The victim, fearing for his safety, fled to a bedroom but was chased by the offender who punched the bedroom door.

It heard that the man then left the home and ran into bushland.

When police arrived, the offender’s partner informed officers that he had attempted hit her but in the process he managed to miss, instead assaulting a toddler.

The man was sentenced at Coffs Harbour Local Court this week.

It was revealed the young victim, who was born in May 2020, was just a one-year-old.

The mother further told officers that he had slapped her on the face before fleeing into the bush.

The offender’s lawyer argued that none of the victims sustained lasting injuries and the assaults were on the “lower end” of seriousness. The prosecution however swiftly rebutted this.

“One assault was on a child your honour – I would submit that is substantially aggravating,” they said.

Magistrate Ian Rodgers agreed that the offences were very serious and that the victim was “extremely vulnerable.”

“These (offences) do approach the imposition of a jail term, particularly the assault on a one-year-old child which is obviously a very serious assault indeed,” he said.

“Even if it was the case that (the offender) didn’t intentionally assault the child, the child was assaulted due to his intention to assault someone else.

“ … Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure in their own home.”

Magistrate Rodgers however took into account that the offender had no previous criminal history except for two traffic offences, and said this allowed him to extend some leniency.

For the two counts of common assault the man was convicted and placed on a Community Corrections Order for 18 months, which is an alternative to imprisonment.

For the intimidation charge he was convicted and sentenced to a Community Corrections Order for 12 months. As part of this he must not commit any further offences.

“If you breach that and come back before the court, the possibility of jail increases dramatically,” the Magistrate warned.

Help lines:

1800 Respect National Helpline: 1800 737 732

Women's Crisis Line: 1800 811 811

Men's Referral Service: 1300 766 491

Mensline: 1300 789 978

Lifeline (24-hour Crisis Line): 131 114