Darrin Austin: Grafton man jailed for breaking into ex partner’s home

A northern NSW man broke into his ex’s house on successive nights while drunk, at one point walking into her bedroom, lying down on her bed and asking her why she was not at work.

Grafton Local Court. Picture: Adam Hourigan

A drunken man broke into his ex partner’s house on back-to-back nights, once showing up in her bedroom late at night when drunk and stating he would only leave if she gave him money.

Grafton man Darrin Austin, 55, appeared via videolink at Grafton Local Court on Monday where he learned he would be receiving a jail sentence because of his continual breaches of court orders.

Austin had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of entering someone’s premises, two counts of contravening an apprehended domestic violence order (ADVO), intimidation and damaging property.

According to court documents, Austin’s most recent offending occurred on November 18 and 19.

On both those dates he showed up — and entered — the home of his former partner, who was protected from him by an ADVO.

The first time this occurred the victim was “resting in her bed” about 9:30pm when Austin, who was drunk, made his unwelcome intrusion.

“(He) walked through the house, entering the victim’s bedroom,” police facts state.

“(Austin then) laid down next to the victim in her bed and said to the victim in a slurred speech: ‘What the f**k, why are you not at work?’.”

The victim asked him to leave and had to assist the stumbling 55-year-old through the house, as well as “struggle” with him, to get him to leave.

Austin attempted to stay at the home, at one point grabbing the door frame so the victim could not push him out.

During this altercation, Austin threatened the victim.

“The victim said: ‘You’re going to f**king hurt me aren’t you’,” police facts state.

“(And Austin replied): “If they were my intentions it would have f**king happened’.”

When the drunken man was eventually outside the home he still did not leave — instead, he stood outside the victim’s bedroom window and said he would only leave if she gave him $100.

He also forced his hand through her bedroom window’s fly screen, causing it to rip.

And Austin continued his antics the very next night, once again showing up and breaking into the victim’s house.

When police arrived they arrested him immediately and noted his drunken state.

Generic picture of police arresting a man. Picture: Alix Sweeney

In court, defence lawyer John Kelly said his client was facing a “serious matter”.

However, he also said his client had taken significant steps forward while on remand and had completed numerous prison programs.

The court also heard Austin had suffered an acute brain injury in 2010 and lives with PTSD as well as short term memory loss.

Magistrate Juliana Crofts said Austin’s criminal history did not assist him.

The court heard the Grafton main previously received jail sentences for similar offences in both 2018 and 2021.

“It is concerning behaviour,” Ms Crofts said. “And there is a concern that the message isn’t getting across to you, that you’re not learning from the punishments given by the court.”

Austin was convicted of the offences and sentenced to 18 months behind bars, with a non-parole period of nine months.