Baby basher Kelsey Rhodes granted bail on domestic violence charges

A man on bail for previously harming an eight-month-old infant is facing fresh domestic violence allegations. Now he is allowed back into the community.

Rhodes was granted bail at the Supreme Court.

A Fairfield man on bail for previously harming an eight-month-old infant is facing fresh domestic violence allegations.

Kelsey Rhodes was sentenced in December 2019 to jail for six years and nine-months with a non-parole period of four years and six months after pleading guilty to reckless grievous bodily harm.

The court heard the 27-year-old had injured an eight-month old infant and was still on bail for those offences when he allegedly committed a fresh set of crimes.

Rhodes was granted bail at the Supreme Court on Friday via video link from Goulburn Correctional Centre, after being charged with common assault, stalking or intimidation, breaching an AVO and two counts of using a carriage service to harass. He pleaded not guilty.

The charges relate to a woman he had a brief relationship with.

He was on bail for harming the baby when he allegedly reoffended.

Police allege Rhodes called the complainant up to 36 times and sent her threatening text messages on December 12.

“You’re making me a psycho,” Rhodes allegedly sent. “I swear I’ll climb up your window.”

The next day Rhodes allegedly became “touchy” with the complainant in a car and angry when she did not want to continue.

Rhodes has spent more than six months in jail.

As she went to get out of the car, he allegedly pulled the woman back in by her hair.

When she got out he allegedly followed her in his car and threatened to kill her before she began running, dialled triple-0 and Rhodes drove off.

He has been in custody for these allegations since December last year, the court heard.

Lawyer Mungo Skyring lodged a bail application on his client’s behalf and said the accused would be forced to spend 18 months behind bars awaiting his trial date if he was not granted bail.

Outside the Supreme Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Custody had been especially onerous for Rhodes because he suffered from PTSD following an incident in custody and needs ongoing mental health and substance treatment in the community, Mr Skyring said.

He has the support of his family and would be able to live with his grandmother.

The Crown Prosecutor opposed the bail application and argued Rhodes was on parole when he allegedly committed the fresh offences which the prosecutor said demonstrated his disobedience surrounding court orders, which could put the complainant at risk.

“There’s little evidence surrounding his mental health history,” he added.

Judge Belinda Rigg said Rhodes was on a community corrections order for failing to comply with reporting conditions when he committed the alleged offences.

“The applicant was on parole for the reckless infliction of grievous bodily harm on an eight-month-old,” she said.

“There was a lack of clarity about how long the PTSD diagnosis has been in existence.”

Judge Rigg granted Rhodes bail on the condition he must have a home detention order at his Grandmother’s Mount Colah home, be of good behaviour, report to Hornsby Police Station three times a week and get medical treatment.

He also needs to comply with an AVO for the complainant’s protection, not enter Bossley Park, not consume drugs or alcohol or have more than one phone.

Rhodes’ case was adjourned to Campbelltown Local Court in August.

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