Ballarat court: John Dinatale refused bail despite $50,000 offer

A “vengeful” man accused of attacking his partner with a machete has made a bid for freedom through a $50,000 surety and family beachside holiday home.

Man facing 50 charges relating to family violence denied bail. Photo by Chloe Smith.

An allegedly “vengeful” man accused of repeatedly inflicting violence upon his former partner including having used a machete, will remain behind bars despite his father offering a $50,000 surety and to house him in the family’s beachside home.

John Dinatale, 42, is charged with 50 offences relating to family violence and animal cruelty, alleged to have been committed in 2015, 2017 and between November 2019 and September last year.

His father Aldo, supported him in the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Monday with both men appearing via video link, after having offered $50,000 in a bid for freedom.

Had Magistrate Letizia Torres chosen to bail Mr Dinatale, he would have resided with his family in their Sorrento holiday house.

Handing down her decision, Ms Torres said she didn’t believe Mr Dinatale’s father had much of an influence over him.

“I am not confident that the risk of reoffending can be mitigated by bail conditions,” she said.

“Bail, intervention orders and even imprisonment have not been enough to manage his behaviour or his attitude and therefore bail is refused.”

Ms Torres described Mr Dinatale as “angry and vengeful” after he tried to recruit his father while imprisoned, to cause “trouble” for his former partner, including to bring about the loss of her job, home and children.

Ms Torres said allegations the man pursued his partner and children in a car when they attempted to flee, had caused injuries through physical violence and harming the family dog amounted to “very serious offending”.

The court heard the family was “terrified” Mr Dinatale would kill them.

Ms Torres said police held “extreme concern” for the safety of the woman and her children.

The court heard there had been an alleged long history of family violence, with the man having pressured his former partner not to contact police or leave him.

Ms Torres said the young children had witnessed “significant” family violence against their mother, to the extent of trying to protect her.

Charge sheets filed with the court allege Mr Dinatale beat a dog and a horse with a broom.

He is also facing a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Mr Dinatale will return to court for a two-day committal hearing in mid-June where witnesses will be cross-examined.