Callum Woods sentenced in court for assaulting child

A man has been hauled before a Wodonga magistrate for spanking a child so hard that they were left with “extensive bruising”. Read the details.

A man has been sentenced in court for smacking a child.​

A man has been ordered to participate in extensive behaviour change programs after he spanked a child so severely they were left with “extensive bruising”.

Callum Woods, also known as Callum Brown-Woods, appeared at the Wodonga Magistrates’ Court via video link on Tuesday.

The court was told Woods had assaulted a child for not taking the bin out as he had directed.

“Mr Woods removed the pants off the seven-year-old child and spanked him with his bare hands on his bare buttocks, leaving extensive bruising,” the police prosecutor said.

The court also heard that Woods had struck the child to the ground, causing bruising near his ear.

The incident was reported to police in 2019.

Magistrate Anne Goldsbrough told Woods it was “unacceptable” to strike a child.

“Let’s be clear, it is never acceptable to hit a child,” Ms Goldsbrough said, before asking if he had ever been hit as a child.

“Yes, I have PTSD from that,” Woods told the court.

Ms Goldsbrough told Woods he should know better given his own experiences and asked if he had since apologised.

She said this was “very important” and he said he had.

Ms Goldsbrough sentenced Woods to undertake 150 hours of behaviour change programs for the spanking, including for mental health.

Woods also fronted the court on driving charges.

The court heard he drove while disqualified and under the influence of prescribed drugs and methamphetamine in February 2022.

“Driving is not your strong suit,” Ms Goldsbrough said.

He was suspended for 12 months and must undergo programs before he gets his licence back.

“I hope your life trajectory is different then,” Ms Goldsbrough said.

He was fined $850, which Ms Goldsbrough described as a “modest outcome”.