Valentina Abbruzzese sentenced for domestic violence at Macquarie Park

An Italian expat notched up her second domestic violence offence in Australia after losing her temper at her then partner at a busy northwest Sydney shopping mall. Find out why she blew her fuse.

Italian migrant Valentina Abbruzzese has been sentenced for assaulting her then boyfriend at Macquarie Park shopping centre after she discovered he still had a joint account with his former partner.

Hornsby Court heard how the 33-year-old former marketing student and waitress visited the Commonwealth Bank branch at the mall on May 13 with her boyfriend, who was intending to close the account he no longer used.

The court heard the victim was fearful that his girlfriend would become upset if she found about the still-existing joint account between him and his former flame.

But Abbruzzese accompanied him to the branch where the bank teller told the victim the joint account could not be closed because of remaining funds.

The victim’s fears about Abbruzzese’s reaction became a reality after they left the bank and got locked in a feud about him keeping the account a secret.

When he left the toilets, Abbruzzese kicked the victim twice in the back of his right leg around the calf muscle, causing him pain.

He walked away but she kicked him twice in the back of the legs.

They argued again when she got a house key cut.

The court heard how the frightened victim started recording Abbruzzese.

Valentina Abbruzzese, left, after leaving Hornsby Court.

“Fearing that the argument would escalate again, the victim has taken his mobile phone out to record the accused who has knocked the mobile phone out of the victim’s hands as she did not want to be recorded.’’

He consulted his mum for advice because he was afraid to return to the home he shared with his girlfriend of seven months, and reported the incident to Eastwood police that night.

He showed cops several text messages which referred to him as a “slut”.

Abbruzzese, who has split with the victim and now lives at North Parramatta, was taken to Ryde police station and charged with common assault (domestic violence).

She pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Tuesday when the court heard how her first domestic violence offence occurred in 2015, just a year after she migrated to Australia for a working holiday.

Magistrate Michelle Goodwin corrected Abbruzzese’s solicitor when she began to tell the court her client had good prospects of rehabilitation.

“I don’t know about that,’’ Magistrate Goodwin said, adding how Abbruzzese attacked a different victim — her ex-partner seven years earlier — and was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm (domestic violence).

The solicitor was unaware of the offence and withdrew the submission after briefly consulting her client.

Abbruzzese was put on an 18-month good behaviour bond after her first offence.

The court heard how Abbruzzese was struggling financially because of Covid, so was not working many hours.

Magistrate Goodwin told the court it was regrettably not the first time Abbruzzese committed a crime.

“There’s no excuse for resorting to violence, particularly in a public area like that,’’ she said.

“The facts indicate that you would benefit with ongoing anger management counselling.”

Abbruzzese was convicted and handed a 12-month community correction order.

Under a two-year apprehended domestic violence order, Abbruzzese must not intentionally or recklessly destroy or damage any property or harm an animal that belongs to the victim; stalk harass or intimidate him or assault or threaten him.