Jesse John Kelly sentenced after bashing and choking girlfriend in Coffs Harbour

A Coffs Coast DV offender brutally bashed and choked his girlfriend after she found syringes in their home and confronted him about drug use – now he’s eligible for parole.

Jesse John Kelly is eligible for parole after the horrifying attack.

A Coffs Coast man punched, kicked and choked his girlfriend for 10 minutes after she found syringes in their bathroom and confronted him about his drug use, a court heard.

Jesse John Kelly threatened to kill the woman, who he left battered and bruised: “You don’t know what I’m capable of – one twist and you’re dead.”

The 46-year-old faced Coffs Harbour Local Court by audiovisual link, pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, choking and destroying or damaging property.

Kelly’s victim confronted him about his drug use after finding the syringes on April 27 last year, according to court documents.

He became agitated and began to strike the woman before he pinned her down on a bed and held her by the throat.

Kelly’s victim confronted him over his drug use after she found syringes in their bathroom, court documents state.

Police facts state the woman remained conscious, but struggled to breathe as she was choked for 10 minutes.

Kelly then made the threat to kill his partner, kicked her in the body several times and broke her phone.

The terrified woman did not fight back during the onslaught and was eventually able to escape, court documents state.

She went to a medical centre and was immediately transferred to Coffs Harbour Hospital where doctors saw her shocking injuries.

The woman was suffering neck pain and found it difficult to swallow. She was bruised across her body and experiencing flashing spots in both eyes, among other injuries, according to court documents.

Kelly's victim was taken to Coffs Harbour Hospital after doctors at a medical centre noticed her injuries.

Defence lawyer Kim Anderson said Kelly made poor choices in his relationship and battled drug abuse issues.

Kelly’s mother was supporting him and he had supportive references, the court heard.

Kelly was put behind bars on April 29 last year and Ms Anderson said his time in custody had a “significant impact” on him.

“He’s faced issues such as emotional regulation and major depressive disorder,” she said.

Ms Anderson said Kelly “achieved a stable mental health state and is able to reflect on the behaviour that led him here”.

Kelly was open to treatment programs and had work lined up ahead of his release from prison, the court heard.

Kelly punched, kicked and choked his girlfriend.

Magistrate Theresa Hamilton said during the sentencing on Tuesday that medical images following the attack showed severe injuries.

She said Kelly’s criminal history included a gap in offending from 2019 to April last year, but he had served sentences for assault, intimidation and resisting police.

Ms Hamilton said Kelly “expressed some understanding into his actions”.

Kelly was sentenced to an 18-month jail term backdated to April 29 last year – meaning he was immediately eligible for parole.

Ms Hamilton told Kelly: “Any further offending and you’ll end up back in jail.”

Originally published as Jesse John Kelly sentenced after bashing and choking girlfriend in Coffs Harbour