Mark Merritt: Dubbo man receives domestic violence conviction

An alleged domestic violence victim threw a drink at his former partner and threatened to smash her headlight.

A 35-year-old Dubbo man who threw a drink at his former partner and threatened to smash her headlight with a wood file has received convictions in court.

Mark James Merritt pleaded guilty to domestic violence-related intimidation and common assault charges. He was sentenced in Dubbo Local Court in September.

Dubbo man Mark Merritt was convicted and received no further penalty. Picture: Facebook/Western NSW PHN

According to a statement of agreed police facts tendered in court, Mr Merritt was in a relationship with Dubbo business owner Anne-Maree Chandler between September 2019 and December 2020.

Police said the pair had been arguing on and off all night when they attended a party at Wellington on February 8, 2020.

About 2am the next morning, Merritt threw a drink at Ms Chandler and said “go away leave me alone”.

She sustained no injuries and police said while liquid from the drink landed on Ms Chandler, the “vessel” containing the drink did not touch her.

The throwing of the drink was classed as common assault by police.

On March 30 last year., police said Merritt, Ms Chandler and one of his friends were at a home on Fitzroy Street.

Merrit had been drinking and after a verbal argument he told Ms Chandler to leave.

Police said she repeatedly refused to leave.

“I just want you to leave, I just want to spend time with my brother,” Merritt said.

Dubbo Local Court magistrate Stephen Olischlager sentenced Mark Merritt. Picture: Ryan Young

After the trio went to a front yard, Merritt was talking to his friend when police said Ms Chandler kept interrupting and saying “Mark why are you doing this, stop drinking”.

According to police, Merritt said something like “what are you doing here, can you go?”.

He later picked up a wood file and said “I’ll make you leave, I’ll smash your headlight” before his friend called out and he dropped the wood file.

The threat to smash the headlight was classed as intimidation by police.

On September 22, Merritt was convicted and Magistrate Stephen Olischlager sentenced him to a conditional release order requiring him to be of good behaviour.

Ms Chandler has been charged with resisting police, breaching an apprehended domestic violence order, intimidation, domestic violence-related common assault, and using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend.

Merritt is the alleged victim in the bulk of the charges.

Ms Chandler has pleaded not guilty to all charges and her case is due to return to court on November 29.