William Kirkbridge Jolly released from jail after horror hotel attack

A man who choked his partner until she had a seizure and wet herself, before she was helped by fellow central Sydney hotel guests, has been jailed for just a month.

The woman felt “humiliated” when she was helped by Great Southern Hotel guests who found her calling for help in urine-soaked underwear on May 14, 2020.

William Kirkbridge Jolly, 35, pleaded guilty at an earlier court appearance to pushing, choking and kicking the woman in the shins when she tried to leave the room during a fight.

William Jolly’s attack was described as “horrific” by the judge.

She told Jolly, “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe”, as he held her head down on the bed, before she had a seizure, the facts show.

The court heard he tried to drag her out of the room, but she wanted to get her handbag and belongings before leaving.

She felt “humiliated” being pushed out in the hallway with no pants on, before he threw her handbag and jeans at her, according to the fact sheet.

The court heard the woman was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital for an assessment. She told police she was “terrified” of Jolly after the attack.

Despite Magistrate Erin Kennedy acknowledging the “horrific” abuse and the anguish it caused the woman, he was released from custody on Tuesday after serving a month in prison.

“I hope this is a big wake up call,” Ms Kennedy told Jolly.

“If this lesson is not enough, you will go on and be back in court. Once you have a conviction, it’s so easy for you to end up back in prison. You will be released today, Sir.”

He broke down in tears in court, telling the judge he had time to think while behind bars.

Ms Kennedy accepted he was truly remorseful for the attack and accepted this was his first DV related charge.