Stephen James Bell jailed for bashing Dubbo woman

A woman was left vomiting, sobbing uncontrollably and with blood pouring out of her nose after her boyfriend bashed her in the middle of a national highway.

A 34-year-old Dubbo man has been jailed for a savage domestic violence attack which left his former partner with broken bones and in need of surgery.

In court documents, police said Stephen James Bell and the woman were driving to a reserve adjacent to the Newell Highway, about five kilometres north of Dubbo, when trouble started at about 8.20pm on December 8 last year.

Stephen James Bell. Picture: Facebook/Jamie Bell

When the pair entered the reserve, the woman got out of the car she was driving and ran onto the Newell Highway.

Bell moved into the drivers seat and took off, spinning the wheels and stopping in the middle of the highway.

Police said after Bell got out of the car he punched the woman and she fell backwards towards the car.

Shortly after, Bell brutally bashed the woman by punching and kicking her head and body.

Motorists stopped at the scene to help the woman and Bell returned to the drivers seat and left the area.

Police said witnesses saw the woman vomiting and crying uncontrollably with severe facial swelling and blood coming out of her nose.

The terrified woman refused to provide a statement to police, however officers said she needed to attend Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred hospital to have treatment for multiple breaks to part of her skull.

A day after the attack police went to arrest Bell at his Pinaroo Place home, however the man who lived with him there said he left the property.

Stephen James Bell pleaded guilty. Picture: Facebook/Jamie Bell

Police noticed Bell’s bedroom window was open and a panel of sheet metal was missing from a fence, before he was located in a corner of the yard.

Bell made full admissions to police and pleaded guilty to reckless grievous bodily harm, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified charges.

He has been bail refused and remanded in custody since his arrest.

When Bell appeared in Dubbo Local Court for sentencing defence lawyer Jacky Dougan-Jones said he had a difficult childhood and his father died of a drug overdose.

Ms Dougan-Jones said Bell was on an intensive corrections order and serving a prison sentence in the community when he attacked his partner.

Police said Bell worked as a butcher and had a “significant criminal history” which would have caused the woman to fear her safety.

Magistrate Theresa Hamilton convicted Bell and made a finding of special circumstances in light of his difficult childhood.

Bell was sentenced to 16 months in jail with an eight-month non-parole period.

He will be eligible for parole in August.

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