Steven Welsh: A Dubbo teenager charged with two counts of domestic violence related assault has been released on bail

A Dubbo teenager who extinguished a cigarette on the face of his partner after an argument has pleaded guilty to two counts of domestic violence related assault. Find out what happened here.

A Dubbo teenager who extinguished a cigarette on the face of his partner during a drunken outburst has been granted bail.

Steven Welsh, 18 appeared in Dubbo Local Court, pleading guilty to two counts of domestic violence related assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Documents tendered to Dubbo Local Court reveal Welsh and his partner had planned on staying at the Cattleman’s Country Motor Inn after attending the Dubbo Show on Saturday.

They continued their night, drinking at the Castlereagh Hotel where Welsh “consumed an unknown amount of alcohol”.

The pair moved to the Amaroo Hotel where they stayed until it closed at 3am.

Steven Welsh appeared in Dubbo Local Court today, pleading guilty to two counts of domestic violence related assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

They remained in the area for another hour, engaging in an argument “before (Welsh) extinguished a cigarette on the victim’s left cheek”.

“The victim walked away to outside the Best & Less store, approximately 100 metres south of the Amaroo Hotel before calling her father, the witness, to pick her up,” agreed facts state.

“When the witness arrived about 20 minutes later to collect the victim, she called (Welsh) attempting to collect the key to their room at the motel so she could collect her belongings.

“Welsh agreed to this and told the victim to come and collect the key.”

The pair met out the front of Church Street Cafe near the zebra crossing where Welsh “immediately pushes the victim to (the) chest area causing her to stumble backwards”.

“There is a brief conversation before the accused punches the victim with force to the left side of her head with his right arm.”

The victim’s father rushed to protect her with Welsh confronting him and then turning around, grabbing her and throwing her around.

“Just after this occurs the witness arrives and grabs Welsh attempting to drag him away from the victim,” court documents reveal.

“Welsh immediately starts throwing punches which the witness reciprocates before multiple other members of the public become involved both attempting to break the fight up and some joining in.”

The victim and the witness attempt to leave, however Welsh approaches them with a physical altercation occurring once again with activity proceeding out of the field of view of CCTV footage.

After leaving the scene, the victim and witness take themselves to Dubbo Police Station to file a report and submit statements.

Welsh was arrested at 5:05am at the Cattleman’s Country Motor Inn and was taken to the police station.

Prior to being taken into custody, he was questioned about the allegations made against him, saying he “never touched the victim”.

“The accused proceeded to claim that he was the victim because he (was) ‘jumped’ and had his head stomped on by the victim and witness despite the CCTV footage clearly showing that does not occur,” agreed facts state.

Welsh’s lawyer, Thomas Russell appealed to Magistrate Gary Wilson for a release application with his client in custody since Sunday morning.

The court heard that Welsh could reside in Coonamble at a relative’s house with Mr Russell submitting that his client would not enter Dunedoo.

Mr Russell continued by saying Welsh’s lack of adult criminal history with no matters in over a year was enough for bail to be approved.

However, the prosecutor opposed Mr Russell’s submissions for bail, saying it was “perhaps one of the most serious offences of this nature”.

She said there was a history of detention applications for Welsh and that the CCTV footage “clearly depicts the offending”.

Despite the prosecutor’s argument, Mr Wilson accepted Mr Russell’s submissions, handing Welsh a two-year apprehended violence order.

Mr Wilson said Welsh must not contact or approach the victim and he must report to Coonamble community corrections with a sentencing date on July 14 in Dubbo Local Court.