Jake Goodwin: Almurta man pleads guilty to possessing drugs and unlawful assault

An Almurta man who assaulted multiple people blamed his offending on his “out of control” life.

Jake Goodwin pleaded guilty at Korumburra Magistrates’ Court.

An Almurta man who was busted with drugs, and assaulted multiple people, blamed his offending on his “out of control” life.

Jake Goodwin, 23, pleaded guilty at Korumburra Magistrates’ Court to charges including possessing cannabis, unlawful assault and intentionally damaging property.

The court heard Goodwin and a woman got into a verbal and physical confrontation at an Almurta house near Glen Forbes in January 2021.

Goodwin grabbed the victim’s arms causing bruising and marks on the woman’s body.

Neighbours who heard the dispute, phoned police but Goodwin has already left the premises by the time officers arrived.

In July 2020, Goodwin had an argument with another victim.

They began pushing and shoving one another which resulted in the victim sustaining injuries to her mouth.

The court heard police arrested Goodwin and took him to a station where he became aggressive and abusive towards them.

Goodwin left the station on his own accord and went back to a property he smashed holes in the walls and yelled abuse at his victim.

In September 2020, police searched Goodwin’s home where two small amounts of cannabis were found in the family room and bedroom.

In a police interview, Goodwin claimed numerous people visited the house and the drugs “probably” belonged to them.

Goodwin’s lawyer Adrienna Kisvarda said the “remorseful” man was born in Hobart and had an unstable childhood.

Ms Kisvarda said the father-of-one started smoking cannabis and methamphetamine, taking Xanax tablets and drinking alcohol when he was 14 years old.

“Following a stillbirth in 2020 and the post natal depression of his partner, he began using methamphetamine again to cope with the loss,” Ms Kisvarda said.

“He started to spiral out of control, his drug use increased and he was unable to cope with the issues with his family.”

Magistrate Jacinta Studham said Goodwin’s offending was serious.

“You had a really bad year last year,” Magistrate Studham.

“Your life completely unravelled.”

Goodwin was sentenced to 120 days imprisonment, licence cancelled and disqualified for six months and fined $500.

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