Jeffery Morris: Goulburn man breached AVO to bash woman

A serial domestic violence offender has been slammed for choking and bashing a woman who offered him a lift home after he got drunk at a wedding.

A recent amputee has escaped jail on medical grounds despite defying an apprehended violence order to “inflict as much pain as (he) could” in a violent assault on his partner.

Jeffery Peter Morris, 40, faced Goulburn Local Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to common assault, intentionally choking a person without consent, negligent driving and contravening an AVO.

According to court documents the Goulburn resident was at a wedding with the victim on March 26 when he quickly became intoxicated.

Morris began to feel unwell so the victim gave him the keys to her car so he could sleep on the back seat after he refused her offer to drive him home.

Instead of taking a nap, Morris decided to drive and reversed into a parked car, badly damaging its rear panel.

Magistrate Geraldine Beattie told Morris his actions were reckless.

The court heard Jeffery Peter Morris had a history of domestic violence. Picture: Facebook

“Having done that, you then go to (the victim’s) home – a place where she should feel safe and protected from you,” she said.

When he arrived at the victim’s house, the court heard he fought with her while she tried to get him out of the house.

The pair left the house and continued to argue before Morris re-entered the house and went back into the bedroom and the victim tried again to make him leave.

Magistrate Beattie said the victim was unequivocal in her efforts.

“It’s pretty clear she doesn’t want you there,” Magistrate Beattie said.

According to court documents, Morris later grabbed the handbag around the victim’s neck and pulled her down to him.

He put both his hands around her neck and squeezed tightly. He briefly paused to punch her in the side of the head before moving his hands back to choking her.

The victim yelled to a witness inside the house who came to intervene, and she ran outside onto the street and called triple-0. Court documents reveal she was scared Morris would chase after her.

Jeffery Peter Morris admitted to violently assaulting his partner. Picture: Facebook

The court heard the savage assault happened a month after Morris was sentenced for a domestic violence offence and served an AVO ordering him not to harm or harass the victim.

Magistrate Beattie said it was clear the offender hadn’t learned his lesson.

“It went in one ear and out the other because you committed another offence soon after,” she said.

In court Morris’s lawyer Sam Rowland said his client showed “both shame and remorse” for his actions.

“There is a genuine insight into his offending behaviour,” Mr Rowland said.

The court heard Morris was in an accident earlier in the year which resulted in the amputation of his leg. Further complications meant Morris had to be connected to two devices to regulate and assist his healing. Mr Rowland said his medical status meant jail would be very difficult for Morris.

“His time in custody would be more onerous than for the average punter,” he said.

Mr Rowland said Morris lost his job and became anxious and depressed as a result of his medical issues.

Magistrate Beattie accepted Morris’s mental health was affected, but said Morris hadn’t done anything to address his issues. The magistrate said the escalation of offences and the severity of the assault showed Morris was “out of control”.

Jeffery Peter Morris was supported in Goulburn Local Court by his sister.

“It’s an alarming episode of violence from you,” she said.

“You had numerous opportunities to leave but you stayed and inflicted as much damage as you could.”

The court heard the magistrate was very concerned for the welfare of the victim after the AVO failed to protect her from Morris.

“You’ve proved you can’t control yourself,” she said.

The magistrate said the only possible penalty was imprisonment, although she accepted Mr Roland’s argument jail would not be suitable for Morris given his recent amputation.

She sentenced Morris to a 12-month intensive corrections order, a 18-month community corrections order and a 15-month intensive corrections order.

Magistrate Beattie also fined him $750 and ordered him abstain from alcohol and drugs, undergo mental health and alcohol treatment and complete an educational course about domestic violence.

She warned future breaches would result in jail.