Thomas Barker: Dubbo man’s arrest aired on social media after assaulting jobless stepson

A man who assaulted his stepson over his refusal to get a job has learned his fate, with a magistrate noting he’d already faced some punishment after the victim filmed his arrest and posted it on social media.

A Dubbo stepfather who assaulted his stepson after his refusal to apply for jobs has been sentenced in Dubbo Local Court.

Thomas Barker, 34, appeared in court last Wednesday, pleading guilty to one charge of domestic violence related common assault after his arrest on June 15.

Court documents tendered to Dubbo Local Court reveal Barker has lived with the 18-year-old victim for most of the teenager‘s life.

Two weeks prior to the incident the victim moved back into the family home to live with his mother and stepfather, however the court heard there were ongoing issues with Barker relating to him being unemployed, using illicit drugs and driving while affected.

Before leaving work on June 15, Barker told the victim to look for a job but after returning home at 1pm, he found the 18-year-old asleep in bed.

According to police documents, Barker then grabbed the teenager by the collar of his hoodie, pulled him out of bed and dragged him to the kitchen.

“(It caused) the victim to bump into walls along the way,” police documents state.

“(Barker) pushed the victim into a seat at the kitchen bench and placed a notebook in front of him, telling him to start looking for work immediately.”

Out of fear of further violence, the victim called police, informing Barker that he had spoken to officers.

Barker didn’t believe the victim and had a shower, with police arriving to find the stepfather still in the bathroom.

Police asked a witness to confirm whether the incident between Barker and the victim had actually happened, which they did.

Barker was initially compliant after being cautioned and arrested, but after seeing the victim he became aggressive and was placed into handcuffs.

He was taken to Dubbo Police Station and entered into custody, making full admissions about the incident and acknowledging “what he did was wrong in the eyes of the law,” police documents reveal.

The court heard from Barker’s lawyer in court last week who appealed to Magistrate Theresa Hamilton, asking to consider the incident as “parental frustration”.

The lawyer said that he did not want to minimise the actions of his client, however, it was spur of the moment, and highlighted Barker’s criminal record with his last offence “almost 15 years ago”.

He continued his submission pointing to a letter written by the victim’s mother who showed support for her partner.

The lawyer asked for a conditional release order without conviction, explaining that Barker and the victim were not living with each other anymore.

Magistrate Hamilton accepted the lawyer’s submission, describing the incident as “minor assault” and happening at the spur of the moment due “to the stepson’s refusal” to get work.

She then noted Barker’s “extra curial” punishment when the victim “filmed the arrest and published it to other people” on social media.

Barker was handed a six month conditional release order without conviction.