Adam Schipkie jailed on litany of charges, told to “change”

A Geelong dad who pinned a woman down and strangled her while a five-year-old boy begged him to stop, has been slammed by a judge for the “insidious” impact of his offending.

Adam Schipkie. Picture: Facebook

A Geelong dad pinned a woman down and strangled her while a five-year-old boy begged him to stop, a court has heard.

Adam Neil Schipkie, 39, appeared in the Geelong Magistrates Court via videolink on Wednesday for sentencing, having earlier pleaded guilty to charges including reckless conduct endangering life, making a threat to kill, theft, dealing with property suspected to be the proceeds of crime and drug possession.

Court documents released by the court revealed Schipkie pinned his ex-partner down and forcefully strangled her with both hands after being told to clean up after himself.

During the incident, which took place when Schipkie was homeless and living in his ex-partner’s shed, the boy was standing in the room and yelling to “stop it”.

The victim was left with injuries including bruising to her arms and throat, and difficulty swallowing and sleeping.

Magistrate Franz Holzer sentenced Schipkie to six months plus fourteen days in prison, minus the time he had spent on remand, to be followed by a 14-month community corrections order (CCO).

Mr Holzer blasted Schipkie for his “particularly serious offending” and pointed to a victim impact statement, which was not read aloud.

“You got angry because the victim asked you clean up after yourself,” Mr Holzer said.

“Why you lost control the way you did is beyond me.”

The victim’s statement pointed to an ongoing impact, both physical and psychological, as well as impacting her ability to maintain employment, Mr Holzer said.

Mr Holzer said it showed the “insidious” way violence doesn’t just impact the victim, but the “community at large”.

Mr Holzer said protection of the victim and the community “looms large” in Schipkie’s case.

“It’s the sort of offending which is very, very particular,” he said.

“To strangle someone to the point where they don’t become unconscious (but are in fear) … takes a bit of thought.”

Mr Holzer said he acknowledged that Schipkie may have experienced significant issues as a child that led to him “not really developing good attitudes towards relationships and substance use”.

But he said it was up to Schipkie to break the cycle.

“You need to make significant changes. You need to make these changes now,” he said.

“You are now an adult, fully fledged. you are in control of what you do, you are in control of what decisions you make.”

The court heard Schipkie was found suitable, with reservations, for a community corrections order (CCO), an assessment Mr Holzer described as a “reluctant positive”.

The order will include 100 hours of community work and Schipkie will return to court in October for judicial monitoring.

On Wednesday Schipkie also pleaded guilty to a further dishonesty matter, having used an elderly man’s bank card to purchase items from several CBD stores in December.

Schipkie was arrested and told police he had permission from the card user, who he said he met at St James nightclub.

Mr Holzer deferred sentence on that matter until Schipkie returns to court.

Originally published as Adam Schipkie jailed on litany of charges, told to “change”