Jye Robert Clarke: Steel fixer on DV charges granted bail

A Murwillumbah man burst into tears as he applied for release after a court heard he would defend five new charges against him.

Police have body worn camera footage of a Murwillumbah steel fixer telling officers his alleged victim “needed a good flogging”, a court has heard.

Jye Robert Clarke, 41, broke into tears during a bail application in Tweed Heads Local Court on Wednesday.

Clarke faces charges of two counts of common assault and five counts of breaching an apprehended violence order.

It is alleged the assaults occurred on November 27, 2021, before Clarke allegedly breached a provisional apprehended violence order by contacting the victim or her children on December 25, 27, January 9 and 10.

He previously pleaded not guilty to the assaults and is yet to enter formal pleas on contraventions.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Chris Martin said police had body worn camera footage of Clarke telling officers after the alleged November incident “I told her I was going to flog her, I did say I was going to flog her because she needs a good flogging”.

The footage was not played to the court on Wednesday.

Sergeant Martin told the court despite the video Clarke had been granted bail with conditions to attempt to protect the victim which he allegedly breached a short time after with five new charges.

“There is a strong prosecution case, including video taken on a mobile phone,” Sergeant Martin said.

Defence lawyer Riley Owen said his client would be defending all contravention charges stating his client had not attended the victim’s residence as alleged.

Mr Owen said he had not been served the videos and the evidence may not be as strong as suggested.

He told the court the footage was said to show his client on a motorbike but may no be able to prove identity or location.

He said the alleged victim had not provided a statement to police in either matter and if his client was convicted a jail sentence was not inevitable.

Clarke broke into tears as Mr Owen told the court the father of three had lost his dad in September last year and planned to see a GP to start a mental health care plan.

Magistrate Annette Sinclair found on the balance of probabilities that the breach had been proven, however granted Clarke bail.

Clarke was given the conditions to reside at a Murwillumbah address, to not contact or attempt to contact any of the witnesses and to comply with the apprehended violence order.

The matter was adjourned to August 5 for hearing.