Lewis Laginikoro: magistrate slams man for violent behaviour, “vile, repulsive” texts

A Mid North Coast father threatened his ex and her family with a slew of violent texts, including “I will f***ing make you all suffer in agony” and “I’m getting locked up for what I do to her”.

A father who threatened his ex and her family, including violent text messages and over 100 missed calls, has been told in court his behaviour is simply not good enough.

Lewis Laginikoro, 25, has now been warned he needs to change his behaviour if he does not only want to see his loved ones through the “partition glass of a prison cell” after a series of vile attacks on his former partner.

Laginikoro appeared before Magistrate Greg Grogin at Port Macquarie Local Court after frustration with his former partner led to aggressive behaviour, described by the magistrate as “vile and repulsive”.

The court heard he was already on a conditional release order for prior offences at the time.

He pleaded guilty to a variety of charges committed against the mother of his children between August 2021 and April this year including three counts of common assault, six AVO contraventions, three counts of intimidation and three counts of prohibited drug possession. I

“He’s committed to nonviolent behaviour moving forward,” Laginikoro’s lawyer, Jeremy Brigden, said.

“He accepts that he acted entirely inappropriately.”

The offences date back to August 2, when the couple began arguing because Laginikoro was suspicious about someone she was messaging.

“The accused believed she was cheating on him,” police facts state.

“During the heated argument, the victim attempted to leave the house.”

Laginikoro “pushed the victim on her shoulder with force”, followed her outside, yelled at her and put “his arms around the victim from behind and tried to force her back into the house.”

Laginikoro appeared in Port Macquarie Local Court on Wednesday.

A neighbour heard the commotion and confronted the man, beginning an argument between the two before Laginikoro went back inside.

During a later interview at the police station, Laginikoro “told police he pushed the victim out of anger” but “denies grabbing her outside as she was trying to walk away”.

Police then applied for an ADVO for the protection of the woman.

According to police facts another argument between the couple erupted on February 27, which led to the woman telling Laginikoro she “wished to end the relationship before requesting that (he) leave the premises”.

He agreed to leave and arranged to stay at a Port Macquarie motel.

Throughout that evening and into the following morning “the accused began sending the victim a number of text messages accusing her of cheating on him”.

“The victim responded to the text, with the couple exchanging derogatory messages back and forth,” court documents claim.

On that Monday morning, the woman asked Laginikoro where he would like his belongings left for collection.

After telling her he had nowhere to put it, the woman replied “not my problem”, triggering violent threats from Laginikoro.

Police facts reveal he then sent a message saying “I’m warning you now, if your mother touches my shit, I’m getting locked up for what I do to her”.

Another message followed: “So I’m f***ing warning you now, if your mum touches my shit I will drop the fat f**k.”

“That goes for anyone in your f***ing house, you touch my shit, I will f***ing make you all suffer in agony.

“Will pound all your f***ing heads into the floorboards.”

The harassment continued to April 1, when Laginikoro tried to call the woman more than 100 times.

A friend of the woman’s brother arrived at the home shortly after, and Laginikoro sent a text asking if she was sleeping with him.

Police arrived on-scene, and Laginikoro “was advised he was subject of an AVO and would likely be arrested”.

He “stated he understood but was at his wits’ end”, according to agreed facts.

Laginikoro was arrested and asked police to retrieve his belongings, which he left in bushland near a local park.

Officers found and searched his bag, locating a plastic bag containing 5.1g of cannabis.

Mr Grogin told Laginikoro to put himself in the shoes of the victim and reflect on the “vile, repulsive” texts he sent.

“How is a person who receives those messages supposed to feel?” he said.

“I see from your sentencing report that your buttons are pressed easily – you need to reset your attitude and learn to cope.”

The magistrate warned Laginikoro he would have to get his temper under control if he didn’t want his family to only see him through the partition glass of a prison window.

“You’ve got to grow up and mature in how you respond to situations, especially now that you have kids,” Mr Grogin said.

“Domestic violence is something that should never occur – it doesn’t matter how cranky a person is.

“A person’s home is supposed to be their castle but you’ve pulled down the drawbridge and attacked.”

Laginikoro was convicted and ordered to pay three fines of $330, $440 and $660.

Supervised community correction orders were put in place for periods of 12 and 14 months.

The AVO between Laginikoro and the woman has also been extended to two years, ensuring he cannot contact her or go within 100m of any place she lives or works.