Mark Kilpatrick sentenced for drug-fuelled Dubbo rampage

A man who morphed into a monster while high on drugs has spoken of his shame after he left his former lover barefoot, banging on strangers doors for help.

Mark Kilpatrick outside Dubbo Local Court after he was handed an intensive corrections order for domestic violence offences. Picture: Ryan Young

A Marrickville man who threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend and bury her dead body while he held her hostage inside a car travelling at high speeds has been spared jail.

In court documents, police said Mark Kilpatrick and the woman were at a friend’s house on Minore Road in Dubbo on February 19 last year when he became violent.

Kilpatrick was diagnosed with methamphetamine use disorder.

The 22-year-old punched the woman in the mouth and covered her face as he said “shut your f****** mouth”.

After Kilpatrick said he would bury the woman she locked herself in her car but he jumped on the bonnet and demanded she unlock it.

When the woman lowered a window slightly at Kilpatrick’s request, he shoved his hand through a gap to push the window down and force himself into the car.

“Let’s go to the police station, I am going to jail, I want to go to jail, it’s where I belong,” Kilpatrick said.

The woman got out of the car and sent four messages to her friend, one of which said “I need help, Mark’s going to f****** kill me”.

When Kilpatrick saw the woman on her phone he tackled her to the ground and left her choking and gagging as he put his forearm on her neck and took the phone.

Websdale Drive in Dubbo, where the woman’s ordeal ended. Picture: Google

According to court documents, as the woman sat on the ground crying Kilpatrick got in the car and drove it up and down the street while screaming “get the f*** up and get in the car”.

Kilpatrick eventually stopped, picked the woman up and forced her into the car before he drove around Dubbo doing up to 130km/h.

During the car trip, Kilpatrick threatened to slit the woman’s throat and kill her.

When Kilpatrick later arrived at his home he told the woman to walk home and pulled her out of the car.

The woman walked down the street with no shoes and none of her belongings as she cried and begged strangers for help.

A member of the public gave the woman a lift to her friend’s house and the incident was reported to police.

When officers arrived on Kilpatrick’s doorstep he came to the front door and said “here you go” as she handed the woman’s handbag over.

In Dubbo Local Court on Thursday, Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to intimidation, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle with a person in it and breaching an apprehended violence order.

Defence lawyer Curtis Penning said Kilpatrick had described his behaviour as “disgusting” and has taken steps to deal with a drug problem.

“On his own back he’s engaged in significant counselling … his intention is to continue doing that,” Mr Penning said.

Crown prosecutor Jarni Simpson Kilpatrick should have been jailed for what he put the woman through.

“This offender does not have a significant record, though he cannot be said to be someone of good character,” she said.

“The offending commenced at around 7.30pm, it continued over a number of hours before the complainant was ultimately able to escape and arrive at the safety of a friend’s home at 10.30pm.

“Even when he (Kilpatrick) returned to Dubbo the violence continued, even in front of his mother.”

Magistrate Theresa Hamilton said Kilpatrick was still a young man who had been diagnosed with methamphetamine-use disorder.

“He, at the time, had not been convicted of any offence,” Magistrate Hamilton said.

“The threats are perhaps the type of threats that one does see quite often in these cases.

“There is no doubt that the victim was put through an ordeal.”

Mark Kilpatrick appeared in Dubbo Local Court after threatening his then girlfriend. Picture: Jedd Manning/Western Aerial Productions

Citing Kilpatrick’s age and steps he’s taken towards rehabilitation, Magistrate Hamilton sentenced him to an 18-month intensive corrections order and 150 hours of community service work.

Outside court Kilpatrick said he was ashamed of his behaviour and his arrest was the wake-up call which led him to “get clean”.

“I tried to get into a rehab but they declined me because of corona so then I just started seeing a drug and alcohol counsellor,” he said.

“I started seeing my counsellor weekly and I got a job and from that I started studying.”

Kilpatrick said he has since obtained a community services qualification.

“Don’t do it” was his message to anyone contemplating drug use.