Dale Mcilvina faces Ballarat court for ‘appalling’ Ballan assault

A west Victorian man verbally abused and assaulted a woman in an “uncontrollable exertion of frustration” during an argument that progressively escalated.

Dale Mcilvina (left), 45, pleaded guilty to assault at Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on February 3, 2025.

A west Victorian man raised his fist at a woman’s face and called her a “psycho” and a “b---” during a small argument that escalated over an afternoon.

Dale Mcilvina, 45, pleaded guilty to assault at Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

The court heard Mcilvina, a freight worker, got into an argument with a woman at a house in Ballan in October 2024.

He grabbed the woman by her jumper and necklace, holding her for about 10 seconds, and raised his fist, holding it towards her face.

Later in the day, the woman made a comment to Mcilvina about turning off an appliance to try to save money.

Mcilvina’s conduct was described as “appalling”. Picture: File

Mcilvina threw a Nintendo Wii gaming console into the garage and said: “Shut your f---ing face, you fat b---h,” calling the woman a “psycho”.

He pounded his fists on a kitchen tabletop, threw things at the victim, and continued to be verbally abusive.

Mcilvina then tipped over a couch in the direction of a woman and a child who was present.

The court heard the “uncontrollable exertion of frustration” was an “isolated incident” and Mcilvina was in a “shameful position”.

Magistrate Guillaume Bailin described it as a “petty argument” that escalated to the point of being “incredibly serious”.

“Your conduct on this occasion was appalling,” he told Mcilvina.

Mcilvina was convicted and put on a two-year good behaviour bond.

He must also make a donation to the court fund.