Phillip de Angelis asks for lighter sentence following domestic violence against ex-girlfriend

The lawyer for millionaire publican Phillip de Angelis has argued in court his client should be sentenced to one day a week of community service for the “cowardly, disgraceful” campaign of domestic violence against his socialite ex-girlfriend.

The lawyer for millionaire publican Phillip de Angelis has argued in court his client should be sentenced to one day a week of community service for the “cowardly, disgraceful” campaign of domestic violence against his socialite ex-girlfriend.

De Angelis last year pleaded guilty to five domestic violence charges involving mother-of-three Nellie Tilley, including punching her in the mouth, throwing a lighter at her causing a gash on her forehead and beating a bathroom door to try to get to her after she found a video on de Angelis’s phone of him having sex with someone else.

In December Magistrate Philip Stewart said an 18-month jail sentence was appropriate but adjourned the matter so de Angelis could be assessed for home detention.

Phillip De Angelis’ lawyer has asked for his client to be given a lighter sentence. Picture: AAP Image/Peter Rae

Janelle "Nellie" Tilley was attacked after she found a video on de Angelis’s phone of him having sex with someone else. Picture: AAP Image/Peter Rae

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On Tuesday at Downing Centre Local Court de Angelis’ barrister Phillip Boulten, SC, submitted that an intensive corrections order should be considered rather than home detention.

Mr Boulten said that if de Angelis did one day a week of community service over 18 months then he would rack up 400 hours.

He said his client was also prepared to engage in a “very intensive form of his own medical supervision” and abstain from drugs or alcohol.

Mr Boulten also tendered three new reports and asked Magistrate Stewart to reconsider the seriousness of the wounding charge relating to the throwing of the lighter.

However prosecutor Amay Tembe said that the “amount of force” to inflict the gash on Ms Tilley’s forehead “must be very significant”.

Phillip De Angelis arrives at The Downing Centre for sentencing, he is accused of domestic violence in his relationship with the socialite Nellie Tilley.

Magistrate Stewart said the BIC lighter was “not a book end or a brick”.

Mr Tembe then said: “The fact it was an ordinary item, not a sharp item like a knife, it was thrown in the context of an argument … would allow Your Honour to come to the view it was a very significant force in throwing the object at the complainant’s forehead.”

Ms Tilley is the former wife of wealthy hotelier Simon Tilley, the brother of James Packer’s close confidant Ben Tilley.

In a detailed statement given to a hearing last year she said: “How do I measure the impact of my sons watching their mother change from a confident positive happy woman to an anxious, edgy, sad and highly strung mum?”

Magistrate Stewart — who has previously called de Angelis’ conduct “cowardly, disgraceful, belittling and controlling” — will hand down his sentence on Wednesday.