Gippsland man refused bail over alleged petrol incident in Moe

A Gippsland man allegedly poured petrol over his partner’s car while her two young children were inside, a court has heard.

A man has faced Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court after an alleged incident in Moe.

A Gippsland man allegedly poured petrol over his partner’s car while her and her two children were inside, telling one of the kids to “shut the f--- up” when they started crying.

The 22-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was denied bail at Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Monday after being charged with six offences including assault and reckless conduct that places a person in danger of serious injury.

Police allege the man’s partner and her two young children from a previous relationship picked him up from hospital on November 6.

The man was allegedly being rude and said he didn’t want to hang out with the woman which caused a verbal argument.

While the car was moving, the man allegedly opened the front passenger’s door and grabbed the hand brake, forcing the car to come to a sudden stop on Lloyd St in Moe.

When one of the woman’s children started crying he allegedly told the child to “shut the f--- up”.

The woman whacked the accused and told him to get out of the car, but the man allegedly grabbed a five litre jerry can that was sitting in the footwell and poured petrol on the front screen of the car.

The woman allegedly sped off with the passenger door still open to save her and her children’s lives.

The accused handed himself into police around 10 hours later.

The man’s lawyer Becky Nowak said the allegations were “out of character” but prosecution argued the alleged offending was against “defenceless victims”.

Magistrate Belinda Wallington said the allegations were serious.

“Ultimately I think the alleged offending behaviour is so serious and out of control that I’m persuaded that he is presently an unacceptable risk of endangering the safety and welfare of the victims,” she said.

The man was refused bail and will return to court at a later date.

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Originally published as Gippsland man refused bail over alleged petrol incident in Moe