Former Geelong man claims woman ‘bruises like a peach’ after carrying out attack

A former Geelong man has been accused of using violence to control people after launching an attack on a woman.

A former Geelong man has avoided conviction after becoming violent with a young mother when she refused to hand over her money.

James Fenton faced the Geelong Magistrates Court on Thursday on charges of unlawful assault following two separate attacks on a young woman known to him and another attack on a former friend.

The court heard that Fenton had previously been involved in a relationship with the woman prior to the attack in May 2020.

Fenton became verbally abusive after the victim refused to give him money.

He damaged the iPad she had been working on at the time before grabbing her left bicep and squeezing it, causing bruising.

The next month, Fenton began aggressively pushing the victim following another argument, which caused her to fall backwards.

The court heard Fenton then continued to push the victim into a wall before striking her cheekbone with his elbow.

He later told police: “I don’t know what she told you but she bruises like a peach”.

The next day Fenton, who had been drinking with a friend, began swinging punches hitting the former friend multiple times and causing swelling to his forehead and eye.

Magistrate Ann McGarvie said Fenton was avoiding accountability for his actions.

“It seems that you like controlling people with violence,” she said.

“People are entitled to have arguments and refuse to give you money without being assaulted.

“You need to learn how to behave … you cannot use fists as a type of controlling behaviour.”

Fenton was sentenced to a 24-month good behaviour bond, and must complete a men’s behaviour change program.

He was also ordered to pay $500 to the court fund.

Originally published as Former Geelong man claims woman ‘bruises like a peach’ after carrying out attack