Mark Barnett, 34: Former ‘Bally Boys’ student jailed for domestic violence assaults

A former student at a top northern beaches’ public school has been sentenced over a series of cowardly domestic violence assaults. See what happened in Manly court.

Mark Barnett, 34, a former student of Balgowlah Boys High School, was convicted of three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm – domestic violence – and sentenced to 12 months in jail. (AAP IMAGE / Troy Snook)

A pool technician has been jailed for year for a series of domestic violence assaults, including leaving his girlfriend with a black eye and bleeding nose.

Former Balgowlah Boys High School student Mark Barnett had lashed out at the woman and punched her in the face during an argument at a flat at Avalon Beach.

Police were told by the woman that she was trying to make him leave the flat early on March 9, because he had been violent towards her in the past, Manly Local Court has heard.

Barnett, 34, of Cromer, was the subject of an apprehended domestic violence order (ADVO) at the time, with a condition that he keep at least 100m away from the woman.

The court heard on Tuesday that Barnett had also assaulted two of his housemates at a home in Narrabeen in October last year.

One of Mark Barnett’s victims suffered a back eye after she was punched in the face. File picture: Supplied

A male flatmate suffered bruising to his neck while a female had her arm bruised during a scuffle.

The court heard that an argument had broken out early on October 20 between Barnett and his flatmates about his girlfriend staying over at the house.

Mark Barnett, 34, was jailed for 12 months by Manly Local Court. Picture: Monique Harmer

Barnett was convicted on three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm – domestic violence, and one count of contraving an ADVO.

In documents tendered to the court, police stated they had been called to the Avalon Beach unit on March 9 after the woman made a triple-0 call at 12.30am, stating her “partner beat me up”.

The victim told police Barnett had punched her after she tried to remove him from the flat soon after he turned up, despite her asking that he not visit her.

Barnett told police that he had been at the unit, but claimed the woman’ injuries were self-inflicted.

He said he had gone for a walk and when he returned “she had a bruised eye and a bleeding nose”.

The police stated that a neighbour had heard a woman repeatedly screaming “get out of my house”.

Barnett’s Legal Aid solicitor said that Barnett, whom he said had attended Balgowlah Boys High School, had been provoked after he was spat on and had his hair pulled.

He said Barnett had a long standing issue with alcohol and drug use and had previously undergone a mental health assessment.

Magistrate Daniel Reiss said that Barnett had previous serious domestic violence convictions on his record, including one that attracted a suspended jail sentence.

Mr Reiss convicted him on all four counts and handed him an aggregate jail sentence of 12 months. He was given a non-parole period of six months. With time already spent in custody, he will be eligible for parole on September 8.