Domestic violence ‘epidemic’: Magistrate raises alarm on Mid-North Coast

These are some of the faces of a domestic violence “epidemic” sweeping the region. See some of the most shocking cases to come before courts on the Mid-North Coast recently.

Mid-North Coast domestic violence offenders who have faced court.

The scourge of domestic violence has been labelled the biggest issue on the Mid-North Coast by a magistrate dealing with an increasing number of shocking cases in local courts.

At the same time, he has sounded the alarm bell for generations to come.

There has been a spike in appalling cases in recent months – one young offender told his ex, the mother of his two children: “I’m going to break all the bones in your body”.

Another threatened his mother with an axe when she tried to intervene in a violent incident.

Visiting Taree Magistrate John Chicken has described domestic violence as an “epidemic” sweeping the region.

“Sixty per cent of our work in this court is domestic violence,” Mr Chicken said in court.

“One in two girls who grow up in domestic violence relationships become victims of domestic violence and one in two boys who grow up in domestic violence relationships become perpetrators.”

NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) figures show that domestic violence is consistently the most prevalent type of crime on the Mid-North Coast.

Over the past five years, domestic violence-related assaults have made up 44.4 per cent of all crimes recorded. Non-domestic violence assaults were 12.1 per cent of crimes recorded.

In comparison, motor vehicle thefts made up 21.1 per cent of all offences, followed by sexual touching, sexual act and other sexual offences at 6.1 per cent; sexual assault at 3.1 per cent and malicious damage at 1.3 per cent.

The number of domestic violence incidents has also increased overall over the past five years.

NSW Police describes domestic violence as involving an abuse of power “mainly perpetrated by men” in an intimate partner relationship, or after separating.

It includes the exploitation of power imbalances and extends beyond just physical violence.

Special police operation targets DV

In recent weeks a police operation targeting alleged domestic violence offenders in the state swung into action across on the Mid-North Coast.

The four-day blitz under the latest Operation Amarok resulted in 592 arrests and 1107 charges, along with 22 guns being seized across the state.

During one arrest in Tinonee police allegedly uncovered guns and ammunition and in Kempsey a man wanted for domestic violence had to be talked down from a rooftop.

Tip of the iceberg

The manager of a Mid-North Coast domestic violence court advocacy service has been helping an increasing number of victims.

Lou Webber from Mid Coast WDVCAS (Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service said on average the service gets 400 referrals a month – but the number has been steadily increasing.

She said it’s just the tip of the iceberg, with many women not considering what they are going through as domestic violence, or worried about coming forward.

Mid Coast WDVCAS is a free and confidential service funded by the NSW government via Legal Aid NSW.

It provides help around Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders, family law and other relevant matters.

See some of the most shocking cases to come to court in recent months:

Bartender sentenced for barrage of vile ‘woman-hating’ threats

“In the cold light of day” a magistrate read aloud the barrage of “woman-hating” messages a young Mid-North Coast man sent his former partner.

Bayley Stace, 20, faced Taree Magistrate Allison Hawkins for sentencing on May 17, charged with stalking/intimidating with intent to cause fear of physical or mental harm (domestic violence).

Stace previously pleaded not guilty and three witnesses attended court ready for a hearing on a prior date, but he entered a guilty plea days before the proceedings, the court heard.

Ms Hawkins read texts and transcripts of messages sent to the victim’s phone.

Stace called the woman a “dumb s---” and an “evil piece of s---” for going to the police.

Ms Hawkins told the court the texts and messages were an extreme example of “misogynistic, woman-hating” language.

Bayley Stace leaves Taree court.

Police facts submitted to court detailed the extent of the offences – with some abuse delivered via text and some shouted down the phone over several weeks in October and November last year.

It followed the victim ending a relationship with Stace in September.

“F--- you, dumb s--- do you know how many women I’ve turned down so I can f---ing still try to be with you, f---ing muppet,” a message read.

“You’re going to be sitting there regretting it when I have some b---- that actually f---ing loves me and actually cares about me and I love her back but no, I’m in love with a f---ing stupid s---.”

Stace was convicted and sentenced to serve a 12-month community correction order.

He will be supervised and required to undertake an anger management course and a domestic violence offenders program.

Read the full story here.

‘You don’t make the rules’: Labourer threatens ex-partner

A labourer was sentenced on June 7 for repeatedly stalking his ex-partner.

At one point, amid a torrent of abuse towards her, Brock John Hynes messaged the woman he had previously been in a six-year relationship with declaring “you don’t make the rules”.

The most chilling of the threats cannot be revealed due to legal restrictions.

Hynes pleaded guilty to two charges of stalking and intimidating with the intention of causing fear of physical or mental harm, and two counts of contravening a prohibition in an apprehended domestic violence order.

The 33-year-old also pleaded guilty to destroying or damaging property valued at less than $2000.

The offences occurred in Cundletown on the afternoon of July 10 last year.

He has taken responsibility for his crimes and since moved to the Tamworth area, his lawyer told the court.

Brock John Hynes.

Magistrate Allison Hawkins said Hynes should be “embarrassed” and he was “closely approaching time in jail” because the offending occurred while he was already on a court order

Hynes was sentenced to two community corrections orders of 18-months and two-years, to be served concurrently.

He will be directed to undergo domestic violence and anger management education.

Hynes was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and not to come within 10km of Taree.

‘Drop the axe’: Mother’s plea during shocking incident

The mother of a Mid-North Coast man had to intervene in a shocking domestic violence episode – at one point shouting “drop the axe”.

Wingham man James Douglas Bellette went on a violent rampage on the afternoon of January 1, during which he brandished an axe and threatened to wrap his car around a tree.

The 25-year-old appeared in Taree Local Court for sentencing on Wednesday, June 7, before Magistrate Allison Hawkins.

James Douglas Bellette.

She said Bellette, a dry goods manager at Coles, abrogated his responsibilities as a father in the “disturbing” episode.

Bellette’s lawyer told the court his client suffered verbal and physical abuse when he was growing up and often resorted to hiding in his room, impacting his mental health.

“I don’t accept it’s mental health – these are the actions of a selfish person who puts his needs before anyone else,” Ms Hawkins said.

“This is classic domestic violence.”

Bellette had been in a relationship with a woman for about eight years and they have a child together, according to police facts tendered to the court.

The relationship ended in December last year, but they remained living together in Wingham.

He developed a relationship with another woman, but remained intimate with his ex and Bellette became angry when he learned the women had spoken.

During the outburst he kicked a Fox Terrier dog, damaged a fridge and punched a wall so hard he broke his hand, the documents state.

At one point he told his ex he wanted to take his car and wrap it around a tree.

Bellette hit her with an open hand and when his mother intervened the woman retreated into a bedroom.

He then picked up an axe prompting his mother to scream “drop the axe”.

Bellette dropped the axe, picked up a Stanley knife and threatened: “I’m going to kill myself”.

The women barricaded themselves inside the house.

Bellette left and was involved in a car crash around 2pm. He had to be taken to Port Macquarie Hospital.

Bellette pleaded guilty to six charges stemming from the incident: two charges of stalking and intimidating with the intent to cause fear of physical or mental harm (in relation to his ex and his mother), common assault, two charges of destroying/damaging property, and going armed with intent to commit an indictable offence.

He was sentenced to two community corrections orders (one for 18 months and another for two years) and directed to undergo domestic violence and anger management courses.

Bellette was also ordered to complete 200 hours of community service and fined $1750.

‘I’m going to break all the bones in your body’: Father’s threats

On May 24 at Taree Local Court, a 23-year-old father of two local was sentenced for making hundreds of terrifying threats to his ex-partner.

Since being remanded in custody on April 10 and awaiting sentence, Ryan Thornhill has been attacked twice by inmates, his lawyer told the court.

Thornhill has pleaded guilty to stalk or intimidate with intent to cause fear of physical or mental harm (domestic violence) and contravening a prohibition or restriction in an apprehended domestic violence order.

In a 24-hour period, he sent more than 300 texts and made over 100 calls, at one stage telling his ex, the mother of his two children: “I’m going to s--- down your neck and feed you to the fish”.

At the time of the offending, between April 9 and 10 this year, Thornhill was already on a number of court orders to prevent him from contacting her.

Ryan Thornhill. Picture: Facebook.

Ms Hawkins read a number of the threats aloud to the Taree Local Courtroom on May 24 when Thornhill appeared via audio visual link for sentencing.

“I’m going to break all the bones in your body … I will shoot you in the back of the head s---.”

Ms Hawkins said: “It should feel uncomfortable to have these words read out in a busy courtroom.”

According to police facts tendered to court, Thornhill also told the victim: “Don’t give me any more reason to want to get in the car right now and come f---ing kill you s---” and “I’m going to rip you apart like an animal.”

The sentencing assessment report submitted to the court indicated that Thornhill blamed the victim, Ms Hawkins told the court.

Thornhill’s lawyer told the court that since being remanded in custody on April 10 his mental health has deteriorated rapidly and he was held down and punched in the torso by three other inmates and had to be taken to Kempsey hospital.

The court heard Thornhill was attacked at Clarence Correctional Centre. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jonathan Perez

After this incident he was transferred to Grafton jail where he was assaulted again – requiring stitches to his eye – his lawyer told the court.

For stalk or intimidate with intent to cause fear of physical or mental harm (domestic violence) Thornhill was given 12 months jail, with an eight month non-parole period, backdated to when he was first denied bail on April 10.

He will be eligible for release on December 9 this year.

For contravening a prohibition or restriction in an apprehended domestic violence order he was placed on a two-year community corrections order.

Thornhill has appealed the severity of the sentence in the district court. The severity appeal was upheld and he was released on a community corrections order on June 26.

He will be subject to the order and must be of good behaviour for two years.

Terrorised victims, covered up stabbing

A Port Macquarie labourer who stalked and threatened women, and covered up a stabbing, was sentenced on July 6.

Drew Alexander Meany faced Port Macquarie Local Court for sentencing for a long list of domestic violence offences and concealing a serious indictable offence – a stabbing in the town in April 2021.

He stalked one of the victims at two separate workplaces – at one stage, forcing her to take refuge behind a service counter then a display cabinet.

The 20-year-old arborist dated one of the victims for about two years before friends developed “grave concerns” for her safety because Meany was extremely controlling, according to police facts tendered to court.

Drew Alexander Meany leaves Port Macquarie Local Court on July 6.

On June 7, 2021, Meany was charged with assaulting the victim and was placed on an apprehended domestic violence order.

This did little to curb his behaviour and in November last year he went to Port Macquarie Kmart, where the victim worked at the time, and walked towards her as she went on a break.

She asked Meany what he was doing there and he said he was going to buy a towel saying “you look good, you should text me, I miss you”.

Meany also contacted the woman via Instagram and with a fake Facebook name.

In an incident at the victim’s other workplace, a homewares shop in Settlement City, Meany entered and she had to hide behind the counter and a display.

In April, after a one-month relationship with another woman ended, Meany went to her place to pick up belongings and flew into a rage when he saw her new partner.

“Get outside c---, have a go,” Meany said to the man.

Meany struck a door five times, headbutted a glass window and made threats to return.

“I’m going to keep coming back and you’re not going to like it,” he said.

Meany pleaded guilty to concealing an indictable offence, multiple counts of stalking and intimidation and contravening a prohibition/restriction in an order, and one count of damaging property.

Meany was sentenced to a 12-month intensive corrections order including home detention by way of electronic monitoring.

He was ordered to cease drug and alcohol use and to complete 125 hours of community service.

‘Shameless’ lack of remorse

A Taree carpenter who took magic mushrooms before seeing his corrections officer has been described as “shameless” for his lack of remorse and jailed for domestic violence.

Shane Gregory Ralph appeared before Taree Local Court on Monday, May 1, for sentencing.

The 38-year-old had pleaded guilty to two domestic violence related charges – stalk or intimidate, intending to cause fear of physical violence and contravening a prohibition in an apprehended violence order.

He had been on strict bail since the offending against his ex-wife, which took place in the Old Bar area between 9am on January 5 and 2.15pm on January 31.

Magistrate Allison Hawkins told the court Ralph’s sentencing assessment report was one of the worst she had ever seen.

She said he showed no remorse for his actions and repeated “vile words shamelessly” about his victim to his corrections officer.

Ralph, from Lansdowne, northeast of Taree, was ordered to abstain from drugs and alcohol after his arrest and release on conditional bail.

But his lawyer told the court an “opportunistic find” of magic mushrooms in a paddock on the way to see the corrections officer led him to the “regrettable” decision to take the psychoactive fungi and end up under the influence.

Ms Hawkins told the court it was a fanciful story but even “if it were true” it showed an inability to comply with court orders.

Ralph was sentenced to 13 months in prison with an eight month non-parole period. He will be eligible for release on December 29 this year.

He has appealed this sentence and it’s listed for mention on September 8 at the Downing Centre in Sydney.

Violent repeat offender

A violent repeat offender from Port Macquarie has found himself in trouble with the law again.

Dwayne Atkins has breached a community corrections order handed down after he was convicted of common assault, drug possession and two counts of breaching an apprehended domestic violence order.

Atkins walked from Local Court in June last year.

At the time, Magistrate Georgina Darcy was reluctant to let him walk free and expressed concerns Atkins would continue the “cycle of violence”.

Ms Darcy also pointed to Atkins’ criminal record, which includes drink driving and drug possession offences.

“That indicates to me that you have unresolved substance problems,” she said.

Dwayne Atkins, 37, pleaded guilty in Port Macquarie Local Court.

As part of his sentence, Atkins was ordered to serve a 12-month community corrections order and complete 80 hours of community service work

But he has only completed two of the required hours, according to documents tendered to court on June 7 this year.

Following sentencing, the local painter applied to complete his community service on weekends, which was approved in February.

The 38-year-old attended a single session on February 19 and failed to show after that.

Atkins was fined $800 in lieu of the community corrections order he had been serving and the order was revoked.

Originally published as Domestic violence ‘epidemic’: Magistrate raises alarm on Mid-North Coast