Domestic violence hotspots NSW: Police respond to 32,000 assaults in one year

Police have dealt with more than 32,000 domestic violence assaults across NSW. Here are some of the sickening assaults that shocked the state. See the 20 worst regions here.

Police across the state have responded to tens of thousands domestic violence assaults in just one year, but an advocate cautions the stark figure does not include the pattern of abuse “before the black eye”.

The latest statistics from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research revealed there were more than 32,400 domestic violence assaults in NSW between October 2020 and September 2021.

This was up more than 400 assaults on the previous 12-month period.

Blacktown had the highest number of incidents with 2218 recorded in the area, with the Central Coast coming in second at 1419 cases.

Canterbury-Bankstown, Penrith, Sydney, Liverpool, Cumberland, Campbelltown, Parramatta and Lake Macquarie were all in the top 10 worst local government areas for domestic violence assaults.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE A LIST OF NSW RESIDENTS GUILTY OF SICKENING ASSAULTS

Tara Hunter, the director of counselling services at Full Stop Australia, said there a number of important factors to keep in mind when looking at statistics around domestic assault.

She explained there is often a pattern of behaviour “before the black eye”.

“When we look at crime statistics it it just the assault reported to police and does not include the abusive or controlling behaviours,” Ms Hunter said.

“Also there is the issue of sexual assault which can occur in a domestic setting but might not show in domestic violence statistics.

“Going forward we need to be looking at the idea of coercive control which is a pattern of behaviour that can include emotional or financial abuse as well as physical abuse.”

Ms Hunter said a rise in the reported number of domestic violence assaults could also be contributed to an increase in victim’s confidence but there is no way to know for sure.

“When we look services like ours, where we respond to domestic and family violence, we also see a slow and steady increase in the number of presentations

“Whether that's an increase of episodes or whether people feel more free to go to police or a service like us, it’s hard to know.”

Acting Assistant Commissioner Andy Holland, NSW Police’s corporate sponsor for domestic and family violence, said a review of the current domestic violence safety assessment tool is underway.

“We have been asked to develop an evidence-based tool with strong predictive accuracy in the identification of victims at ‘serious threat’, to enable coordinated and integrated services to increase the safety of the victim,” he said.

“The project is informed by the rich expertise and knowledge of risk assessments held nationally and internationally, and the research completed by BOCSAR is of significant value in this project.”

Full Stop Australia provides free, confidential, 24/7 counselling for anyone impacted by sexual, domestic and family violence nationwide. Counsellors are available at 1800 385 578 or at www.fullstop.org.au.

PEOPLE CONVICTED OF ASSAULT IN 2021

JASON ELLIOTT

Jason James Elliott had an argument with an ex when he dragged her by the hair into a bedroom where she was pushed up against a dresser and headbutted multiple times.

Dubbo Local Court heard last year that the woman said “you are going to kill me” to Elliot and he replied, saying “I don’t care, I don’t care, I’m going to kill you”.

Police charged Elliot with intimidation, assault and choking offences, which he pleaded guilty to.

Elliot was convicted of all offences and placed on a two-year community corrections order which requires him to be of good behaviour.

JUDITH ALLAN

Ninety-year-old Judith Allan wound a plastic sandwich wrap around her husband’s head as he slept after she reached ‘the end of her tether’ with him.

Moss Vale Local Court heard Mrs Allan took a 52cm long strip of Glad Wrap from the kitchen and wrapped it around her husband’s head before he woke up to his wife standing over him.

When asked by police why she had done it, Mrs Allan maintained she wanted to “frighten him”, according to court documents.

Mrs Allan pleaded guilty to choking her husband without consent and was sentenced to a community corrections order for two years and an apprehended violence order for her husband was enacted for the same period.

STEPHEN NEVILLE

Stephen Neville attacked his wife of 40 years and left her with red marks around her neck and begged to avoid a conviction because it would ‘force him to resign”.

Court documents reveal the St Clair man repeatedly pushed Mrs Neville down as she tried to get out of the bed and struck her with the heel of his palm before pushing her down around her chest and grabbing her neck, leaving red marks on her neck, chest and arm, according to court documents.

Mr Neville was convicted at Penrith Local Court and sentenced to a one-year community corrections order to commence on September 21.

LUKE BROCK MATHIESON

Luke Brock Mathieson was jailed for an escalating pattern of domestic abuse that culminated when he poured petrol over his partner and tried to push her into nearby burning candles.

The 33-year-old faced Picton Court after pleading guilty to assault, intimidation, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and four counts of destruction of property.

The court heard he went to the laundry room and got a jerry can full of petrol, which the victim thought he was going to use on the fire. Instead, he mouthed at her to “hang up the f***ing phone” and poured the petrol over the woman’s head, shoulders and back.

The police facts reveal she begged Mathieson not to hurt her as he told her to move towards the lit candles and pushed her.

Mathieson was sentenced to four years and four months in jail with a two year and eight month non-parole period. He also imposed an apprehended violence order for 10 years to protect the victim.

JULIAN SEBASTIAO

When convicted attacker Julian Sebastiao hurled a whisky glass at his girlfriend he was more concerned with blaming her and concealing the violent attack than rendering assistance.

Parramatta Local Court heard the glassing caused a 5cm wound, permanent scars on her cheek near her left eye and several other lacerations to her face.

Sebastiao refused to call an ambulance and picked her up, removed her bloodied clothing and put her into the shower in an attempt to wash the blood off her, according to police facts.

He was convicted and sentenced to a 15-month intensive correction which allows him to serve it in the community.

PAUL RONALD CAPNER

Goulburn man Paul Ronald Capner has admitted to being ‘out of control’ when he followed his ex to her hide-out, threw her against a wall and stomped on her face.

The then 43-year-old appeared in Goulburn Local Court last year after pleading guilty to entering a property without permission, destroying property, and assault.

Police facts revealed he grabbed his ex by the throat with both hands and pushed her against the wall behind her, forcing her head to bang against the wall twice.

Capner was sentenced to full-time imprisonment for 18 months with a 13 month non-parole period.

JAMES ROBINSON

James Robinson pelted his wife with eggs when his attempts to woo her back on what would have been their wedding anniversary were turned down.

The then 50-year-old appeared at Waverley Local Court in May last year after he was charged with common assault, unlawful entry, using a carriage service to menace or harass and contravening the AVO his estranged wife of four years took out on him following the egging.

Police facts revealed that when officers were called to the scene the victim’s head and torso were covered in egg and eggshells along with the floor and front door.

Robinson to a supervised three year Community Corrections Order for the charges of common assault and contravening the AVO.

For using a carriage service to menace or harass, Robinson was sentenced to a three year Commonwealth Recognisance order and he was also fined $400 for unlawful entry.

BENJAMIN DAMBIEC

Benjamin Dambiec threatened to kill his girlfriend while armed with a 30cm knife and even slashed her bedding after a vile argument in which he shoved her around their apartment.

He was just 19 years old when he viciously assaulted his then-girlfriend of only four months at their Sans Souci home.

On the day he was to face a hearing at Sutherland Local Court in March 2021, Dambiec pleaded guilty to one count of common assault and being armed with intent to commit assault.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing an unauthorised replica pistol related to a black replica Glock pistol found in a Gucci satchel which police later determined to be a gel blaster.

Dambiec was sentenced to a 12-month intensive corrections order for being armed with intent, and a 12-month supervised community corrections order for the common assault.

He was also ordered to complete 100 hours’ community service and an order to abstain from drugs and alcohol.

ANDREW ATKINS

A man subjected his partner to terrifying acts of violence in which he threatened her with an axe, threw syringes at her and scolded her with the filling of party pies.

However, Andrew Atkins was handed an intensive corrections order to be served in the community having been on remand for a month and 10 days.

In September 2021, Blacktown Court heard about the horrific chain of events that included him cooking party pies and sausage rolls and then pushing them into her arms and body so the hot processed meat burnt her skin.
The court heard he approached her with 10 capped and uncapped syringes and threw them at her. Some hit her while others were left spread across the floor.

Atkins, through his lawyer, pleaded guilty to all charges: stalk and intimidate, damage phone and damage property, assault, choking and common assault.