Shane Patrikis in Taree court on domestic violence assault charges after crimes including dousing pregnant partner in lighter fluid

As a Mid-North Coast woman’s pregnancy progressed, the horrifying violence perpetrated by her partner only escalated. She was doused in lighter fluid, punched while breastfeeding - and he mocked how she cried.

Taree Police Station and courthouse.

As a Taree woman’s pregnancy progressed, the horrifying violence perpetrated by her partner only escalated – Shane Patrikis doused her in lighter fluid and threatened to set her on fire.

On another occasion, Patrikis punched the Mid-North Coast victim in the nose while she breastfed and mocked the way she cried as blood dripped over her.

The 27-year-old was granted bail following an attack in June last year, Taree Local Court heard.

But it was revoked less than a month later, after another violent outburst.

Patrikis faced Magistrate Allison Hawkins in the court on Monday, pleading guilty to a spate of shocking domestic violence crimes.

Shane Patrikis leaves Taree Local Court on July 11 last year.

Multiple studies have found strangulation is a significant risk factor for a woman being killed by her partner and regional courts often reference the danger.

Patrikis’s concerning offending involving lighter fluid comes shortly after Brian Earl Johnston received a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment for the murder of Gold Coast mum Kelly Wilkinson, in a wholly separate case.

The former US marine used petrol to set Ms Wilkinson on fire after he stabbed her, sparking outrage across the nation.

In Patrikis’s case, court documents reveal his violence in the weeks leading up to June attacks. He became increasingly aggressive towards his partner, who was pregnant with their child.

Patrikis demanded she go to bed at certain times, wear certain clothes and threatened to “take off” with their baby once it was born.

On June 19, Patrikis grabbed the victim’s throat during an attack as she was falling asleep, and threw her phone.

Patrikis choked the woman, among other shocking domestic violence acts.

A few days later, Patrikis tossed lighter fluid over the woman and threatened to “light you up” if she “didn’t wear something comfy around the house”.

The court heard the same month Patrikis kicked the woman after she told him he did not need to take more drugs.

Her father came to the house, found his daughter crying and phoned triple 0, leading to Patrikis’s initial arrest and an apprehended violence order (AVO) being imposed.

Less than a month later, Patrikis was back in contact with the victim.

Patrikis punched her in the nose and mocked the way she cried as the blood dripped from her nose while she breastfed.

Her dad arrived, the woman grabbed his arm and pleaded: “Please don’t leave – he is here and on the ice (methamphetamines).”

The man asked her how long Patrikis had been on the drug and the woman replied “about two days – I can’t stop him”, court documents state.

When the dad tried to approach, Patrikis grabbed a boning knife and waved it wildly near the older man’s head.

He made threats to take his own life and those of others. Patrikis exclaimed “because I’ve got mental health I’ll get away with it. It doesn’t matter”, the court heard.

He has pleaded guilty to: choking, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, stalking and intimidation, threatening to injure a person and two counts of using an offensive weapon with intent.

Patrikis also pleaded guilty to breaching an AVO and four counts of common assault.

He is due to be sentenced in the District Court on April 22.