Luke Hardeman: Bondi Junction man charged with assaulting escort girlfriend

A Bondi Junction man engaged in a romantic tryst has been granted bail to live interstate after the court heard he “can’t be trusted” to remain in the same city as the ex-lover he is charged with assaulting.

A young expat who calls himself a professional abseiler but works the mines in Western Australia was granted bail on domestic violence charges on the agreement he would remain on the other side of the country to his alleged “jilted” lover.

But Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge told the court the young man “can’t be trusted” to be released in the same city as the woman he allegedly violently roughed up on multiple occasions in the past seven months.

Luke Hardeman, 28, has pleaded not guilty to a string of domestic violence related assaults and using a carriage service to menace/harass/offend, but has pleaded guilty to contravening an apprehended violence order. The Bondi Junction man has pleaded guilty to attacking the woman on one occasion.

The charges, which all relate to the same woman, were mentioned at Waverley Local Court on Tuesday.

The court heard the alleged attacks took place across several late nights at residences at Bondi Junction and Waterloo where Hardeman and his lover would meet on his allotted seven days off following fortnight stints at a WA mine.

Luke Hardeman.

Hardeman’s lawyer Ms Levy told the court the woman – who earns income as an escort – was not blameless in the messy affair, having used an AVO as a threat following arguments where she retaliated physically.

“I’ve got you now, you’re f**ked,” Ms Levy told the court were the victim’s words following one such argument.

“It’s a toxic relationship to say the least.”

Ms Levy told the magistrate granting bail in WA would allow Hardeman to continue working as a miner in the state and pay his legal expenses while staying out of reach of the alleged victim.

“It will allow her to get on with her life.”

Hardeman had now completed a full mental health care plan, the court heard.

“He’s fallen on his sword,” Ms Levy said, and told the court Hardeman had a black eye and bruises from an encounter with the victim.

Hardeman appeared at Waverley Local Court. Picture: Damian Shaw

Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge granted Hardeman bail under strict conditions including that he must live at a designated location in West Perth, report to Waverley Police Station via a phone call at a set time each week and cease any contact with the victim.

“Breach this, if you have any contact; any card, any phone calls, any gift … your bail will be revoked. If she writes to you, if she calls you; rip it up,” she said.

“If you engage with her that will mean you’ve continued the relationship. If you are willing to go to jail for this relationship, continue the way you are going.”

The warning was “not a threat. It’s an absolute promise,” Magistrate Milledge said.

The matter will return to court on November 21.