Blacktown: Justin Plusch jailed for choking partner in horrific coward attack

Disturbing details of a bodybuilder choking a woman and his history of coward attacks on other women have been shared in a Sydney courtroom, despite friends and family claiming he was a nonviolent person.

A bodybuilder with a history of domestic violence against multiple different women has been jailed over a vicious coward attack which left a woman traumatised.

Blacktown Local Court was told on Monday that Campbelltown man Justin Plusch, 35, was described as non violent by friends and family but his actions behind closed doors demonstrated a very different story.

Plusch, who described himself on social media as a bodybuilder, faced court to be sentenced on two charges of choking his ex wife in 2020.

Plusch was supported in the courtroom by his fiancee, his mother, and two friends.

Magistrate Aaron Tang told the court Plusch had previously pleaded not guilty and went to hearing, which carried on for five days before he was found guilty.

Mr Tang said the hearing was delayed for several years due to impacts of Covid on the court system.

The court was told Plusch choked his then-wife at their home one evening in September 2020, telling her he would “break her neck” during a heated verbal argument.

He pushed her into their laundry and into a wall before he grabbed her by the throat and squeezed.

Justin Plusch was sentenced in Blacktown Local Court on August 5 for two charges of choking without consent. Picture: Social media

The court was told the woman did not lose consciousness but could not breathe, coughing after he finally let her go.

The woman tried to escape out the front door a short time later with her phone in hand to call triple-0, but was stopped by Plusch.

The court was told he tried to take her phone off her and then choked her again, with one hand on her neck and one on her jaw. When Plusch finally let her go, the woman fell to the ground.

The court was told Plusch apologised while the woman who texted a friend and told her what had happened. This friend then called the police.

The court was told the woman’s voice was hoarse while being questioned and bruises appeared where he had grabbed her. Her neck and throat also felt sore in the days after.

The court was told Plusch had a history of coward attacks, including for assault occasioning bodily harm against the same victim in 2016. He also had been sentenced for stalking and harassing a different woman.

Mr Tang said a victim impact statement – which stated the woman now has chronic anxiety, PTSD, flashbacks and daily triggers.

The court was told Plusch’s offending was a “red flag” to what usually followed with domestic violence homicides.

Lawyer Vinny Vinay told the court several character references described him as nonviolent, but Mr Tang said it was clear Plusch acted very differently in private.

“This is someone who goes about committing offences behind closed doors against vulnerable women,” he said.

Blacktown Local Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Mr Vijay said his client was subject to family violence growing up and had been extensively bullied in high school.

He said Plusch, who was now working full time as a truck driver, was experiencing extreme lowness and depression at the time of the coward attack and admitted he has anger management issues, which he was working through with several courses.

He was unable to take part in a domestic violence program for men, however, due to outwardly denying the charges.

Mr Tang said he could not accept Plusch was remorseful for his actions, given he still denied the charges.

Plusch was seen holding his fiancee and his mother’s hands and with his head down as his sentence was handed down.

Mr Tang sentenced Plusch to 15 months behind bars, with a parole release date of May 5, 2025.

An apprehended violence order against the victim was also created and will remain in place for five years.

Plush’s mother and fiancee sobbed as they hugged him goodbye before he was placed in handcuffs and led away.