Greg Foley: Grafton sawmill worker pleads guilty after breaking woman’s nose in shocking DV attack

A Clarence sawmill worker broke his partner’s nose with a headbutt and bombarded her with chilling text messages. Now, he has been dealt with for his appalling behaviour.

Greg Foley was sentenced at Grafton Local Court

A Grafton sawmill worker broke his partner’s nose with a headbutt and bombarded her with chilling text messages in which he threatened to slit her throat.

South Grafton man Greg Foley faced Grafton Local Court on Monday.

The 30-year-old pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, intimidation and using a carriage service to threaten to kill.

Foley terrorised his de facto partner of ten years – the mum of his three children and now his ex, according to documents tendered to the court.

The victim and Foley began to argue at a South Grafton home about 7.30pm on June 2 last year.

Greg Foley (left) and his lawyer outside Grafton Local Court.

Foley “placed his closed hands against the victim’s back” and the woman “reacted by punching him in the face”, the documents state.

Foley then bashed his head against the victim’s nose, leaving her with a nasal fracture.

He left the home and the woman went to hospital, where she had surgery to fix her nose.

Foley also sent the victim a terrifying series of text messages.

The woman did not immediately go to police because she was afraid of how Foley would react.

On July 2 last year, the woman received an array of messages from Foley, the documents state.

The read: “(I) have no respect for you don’t f--k with me anymore it will be much worse than a broken nose next time I swear ... I will kill you of (sic) you carry on at me when I’m there to get my s--t so best have what U can find out the front.”

Foley continued: “Your so f--king lucky I didn’t kick your door in and just slit your putrid throat this is the first time I’ve actually meant this I F--KING HATE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU!!!”

The woman went to police the next day and Foley was arrested on July 7.

In court, Foley’s defence told the court he had taken positive steps toward rehabilitation by undertaking the Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) program.

Greg Foley outside Grafton Local Court.

Foley came before the court with no prior history of domestic violence.

But the prosecution argued Foley needed to be jailed and “everyone has the right to feel safe at home”.

It was emphasised that Foley threatened to do worse next time and even kill the woman.

Magistrate Juliana Crofts said Foley’s offending was “very serious”.

Foley was convicted and sentenced to a 15-month intensive corrections order, with 150 hours of community service work.

He was also fined $500 and sentenced to serve an 18-month Commonwealth recognisance order for the offence of using a carriage service to threaten to kill.

“I want to make it very clear you are serving a sentence of imprisonment, but in the community,” Ms Crofts said as Foley left the courtroom.

Originally published as Greg Foley: Grafton sawmill worker pleads guilty after breaking woman’s nose in shocking DV attack