Police allege Michael Kesailainen attacked a woman in Eaglehawk caravan park

A man found himself in custody after an alleged violent attack at a caravan park on the outskirts of the ACT.

Michael Kesailainen applied for bail in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday.

An attempt at bail by an ACT man charged with assaulting a woman was almost impacted by the upcoming SummerNats car festival.

Michael Andrew Kesailainen, 49, was arrested on December 30, 2022, following an alleged incident at a caravan park in Eaglehawk, some 20 minutes outside the nation's capital.

Kesailainen was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and appeared in Wollongong Local Court to apply for bail on Wednesday.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Tanya Pavlin told the court Kesailainen had a “history of domestic violence” before describing the fresh allegations as a ”concerning assault”.

The court heard Kesailainen allegedly “reefed open the driver door and tried to physically drag the victim from the vehicle and then punched her several times in the face causing her deep lacerations”.

Sgt Pavlin said the alleged assault “only stopped after a witness intervened”, adding that Kesailainen ”wasn't deterred that there were witnesses and they were calling out”.

Kesailainen, who was residing at the same caravan park as the victim, indicated he had a formwork job lined up in the ACT that he was starting next week.

The alleged incident is said to have occurred at the Eaglehawk caravan park. Picture: Google Maps

He initially said he could return to a different lot at the Eaglehawk caravan park, however, that was knocked back with the park advising they were booked out due to SummerNats.

Kesailainen said he could live with a friend in Parramatta and when asked whether that would put his work prospects in jeopardy he replied “I can get a job anywhere, I've got that many skills”.

The accused then said he would go to a caravan park in Queanbeyan, however, Registrar Tina McKenna suggested he would “likely face the same problem”.

Despite Sgt Pavlin‘s strong concerns, Ms McKenna opted to grant him bail on the proviso he inform Queanbeyan police where he is living within 48 hours of release.

Kesailainen was also ordered not to go within 500m of the victim and report to Queanbeyan Command three times a week.

The matter will be mentioned in Queanbeyan Local Court on January 10.