Jonathan Eyles sentenced for domestic assault

A former star real estate agent who savagely assaulted his former partner has learned the outcome of his bid to have his charges dismissed for mental health reasons.

A former high profile real estate agent who savagely assaulted his former partner has failed in his bid to have his charge dismissed under the Mental Health Act.

Jonathan Eyles, 31, was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm after an alcohol-fuelled incident at a Woolooware home on January 13 which left his partner unconscious on the floor with hair ripped out and a broken wine glass at her side.

“The victim had bruising to her left arm, bruising and red marks around her face and neck, bruises to her right knee, a lump and pain to the back of her head and bruising and a puncture wound on her right arm,” police facts tendered to Sutherland Local Court state.

The victim was then taken into custody with police where officers made an apprehended violence order against her for Eyles’ protection.

This was later withdrawn and dismissed in court when Eyles was charged with assaulting the victim and subjected to an AVO for her protection.

Jonathan Eyles, 30, leaves Sutherland Local Court on January 19 2022.

Eyles pleaded guilty to the charge at the first opportunity and sought for it to be dealt with under the Mental Health Act, by which a court can divert an offender for mental health treatment instead of punishing them under criminal legislation.

Barrister Ben Barrack told the court Eyles made the application due to a long-term struggle with bipolar disorder, alcohol use disorder and intermittent use of recreational drugs.

“What’s significant about the mental health impairment is that there is objective, corroborative evidence of this prior to the incident,” Mr Barrack told the court.

“He spent two months in Sutherland Hospital in July and August 2021 and prior to that was in intensive care, and he was again admitted in November 2021.”

Jonathan Eyles.

Mr Barrack told the court Eyles’ first hospital admission was involuntary and occurred due to his parents’ concern for his welfare.

However, police prosecutor Sgt Nolan argued the court should not elect to deal with Eyles under the Mental Health Act as he had already been in active treatment when the incident occurred and it had not deterred him from offending that night.

Magistrate Jayeann Carney denied Eyles’ application to be dealt with under the Mental Health Act and instead sentenced him under the criminal legislation to a 12-month conditional release order without conviction.

“He has expressed remorse for what he did, and it has resulted in the break-up of a significant relationship, they had ambitions to marry,” Ms Carney said.

“Alcohol was a factor on that night but it’s not a mitigating factor – though people with mental health issues often self-medicate, but that makes it worse.”

The court heard confirmation Eyles had lost his employment at a prominent Sydney real estate agency as a result of the criminal charge.