Bondi man Petrus Van Rensburg sentenced for assaulting girlfriend in the Illawarra

A site foreman grabbed his partner’s neck multiple times during vicious attacks over several hours after she tried to end their relationship, a court has heard.

Petrus Van Rensburg was sentenced after pleading guilty to three domestic violence charges. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A Bondi site foreman grabbed his partner’s neck multiple times during vicious attacks over several hours after she tried to end their relationship, a court has heard.

Petrus Johannes Van Rensburg, 27, was sentenced after pleading guilty to three domestic violence charges in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday.

Agreed facts tendered in court stated Van Rensburg and his girlfriend were in a relationship for nine months.

They went to the Illawarra Hotel on June 29, last year, where they drank and later got into an argument.

When they left the hotel, Van Rensburg drove the woman home to Koonawarra and they continued to yell at each other.

Petrus Van Rensburg (left) with lawyer Matt Ward at Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Van Rensburg stopped the car and grabbed the woman by the neck before he pushed her into the passenger side door, where she got marks on her neck.

They continued yelling at each other until they reached her house.

In the early hours of the morning, the woman sent Van Rensburg text messages telling him she wanted to end their relationship and start using dating websites.

Van Rensburg sent the woman a series of messages that read, “I hope you will be OK”.

About 10am the next morning, Van Rensburg returned to the woman’s home where he climbed through the window – which he had previously been allowed to do but did not have permission to do on this occasion.

The pair spoke about their relationship before they got into another argument when Van Rensburg began looking at her phone and went through her messages.

Petrus Van Rensburg was sentenced to a community correction order.

He then jumped on her and grabbed her neck while shaking her before he bent back her fingers.

The woman reported the assaults to police the following day and photos were taken of the bruising around her neck and on her nose.

Van Rensburg was arrested at his Bondi address before he did an interview with police.

He admitted to placing his hands around the woman’s throat while in the car, claiming that she was kicking him at the time.

Van Rensburg said he apologised on the way home and then called her again to apologise the next morning.

He said he couldn’t remember putting his hands around her neck the following morning but acknowledged the injuries would have been “from me grabbing her”.

Van Rensburg also said “it doesn’t matter what anyone does, it should never get escalated to that sort of circumstance”.

The court heard he worked as a site foreman for a construction company in the building industry.

Defence lawyer Matt Ward said his client was immediately remorseful and apologised the next day, making admissions to police.

He noted Van Rensburg had insight into his offending noting he knew he never should have grabbed her, and had sought help for his behaviour through a psychologist and attending a mens behavioural change program.

Mr Ward also noted it was Van Rensburg’s first time before the court for domestic violence offences, he had taken real steps towards rehabilitation and there had been no offending since.

Magistrate Claire Girotto acknowledged Van Rensburg’s admissions, remorse, insight and rehabilitation.

He was sentenced to three community correction orders for two years and fined $3000.