Domestic violence offender Jack Hallett sentenced for assault, intimidation on partner at Muswellbrook

A Muswellbrook man arrested on an outstanding warrant during Operation Amarok II - targeting violent domestic violence offenders - has now learned his fate.

A man arrested as part of the statewide Amarok operation. Jack Hallett was a Muswellbrook man arrested as part of the operation. NSW Police

A Muswellbrook man arrested as part of a statewide crackdown on violent domestic violence offenders has narrowly escaped jail time.

Jack William Hallett, 23, was arrested last month on an outstanding warrant - one of 648 people nabbed in Operation Amarok II raids across NSW targeting some of the most dangerous offenders.

It followed an assault on his then partner on August 14 at Muswellbrook last year where he was charged with intimidation and an assault charge.

The court heard Hallett was suffering from a meth addiction when he had an argument with his partner of four and a half years threatening her, “don’t come back, I’ll slice your throat” after ordering her to “go get me more roc (sic)”.

The following morning the pair had a physical altercation when the 23-year-old was looking for drugs and smokes and his partner couldn’t find any.

One of the men arrested as part of the statewide Amarok operation. NSW Police.

One of the items seized as part of Operation Amarok. NSW Police.

Police facts detailed that he became violent grabbing her hair, and bit her on the face before punching her, causing bruising to her eyebrow.

The court heard police were soon called and the victim was “extremely scared” and was hunched over on the lounge asking officers to help her.

Hallett was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station where he was charged.

The 23-year-old appeared via video link at Muswellbrook Local Court on Wednesday where Magistrate Kevin Hockey said it was a “serious” offence and his lengthy record didn’t assist him, including a community correction order (CCO) in 2019 for assault.

The court heard Hallett spend about three months in a rehabilitation facility for his drug addiction and released himself in February before being arrested again in April.

But Magistrate Hockey said the 23-year-old had spent the appropriate time in custody and was satisfied he had good prospects of rehabilitation if he stayed off the drugs.

He was sentenced to a 12 month intensive correction order, and would be released from custody, while also ordered to abstain from all illegal drugs.

In April, officers arrested more than 600 people in the statewide operation, with more than 1100 charges laid against a number of alleged perpetrators.

NSW Police raided everyone from organised crime figures to “average joes” and seized deadly weapons including spearguns, firearms, knives and gel blasters.

Some of the most disturbing findings emerged from regional towns in NSW.