Bendigo concreter David Walker charged over 171 allegedly abusive phone calls from prison

A Bendigo concreter broke down in tears when his bid for bail was refused after he was charged with threatening his alleged victim over 171 “extremely abusive” phone calls from prison.

Bendigo concreter David Walker allegdly made 171 “extremely abusive” phone calls to a woman from prison in an attempt to have her change her statement to police so he could get out of custody.

A Bendigo concreter who allegedly subjected two women to “protracted abuse and degradation” broke down in tears when his bail was refused after he allegedly threatened a woman from prison.

David Walker faced Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice following 171 “extremely abusive” calls to a woman.

Mr Walker applied for bail after he was remanded in December in relation to alleged offending against two women.

Simultaneously, police filed new charges against Mr Walker, alleging he made 171 phone calls from prison in January and February to pressure the woman into changing her statement to police in an attempt to have the charges against him withdrawn and to be released from custody.

David Walker allegedly threatened a woman in 171 “extremely abusive” phone calls from prison to try and make her change her statement to police about alleged offending.

Police also allege he attempted to coerce his 73-year-old mother into pressuring the complainant, demanding she “make her drop the charges”.

In a phone call played to the court Walker allegedly yelled at his mother “you f**king useless c**ts haven’t done nothing for me”.

“Wait till I get home, I’ve had enough of you f**king rats,” Mr Walker allegedly said.

The detective said that was the most “restrained” phone calls – describing the other 171 calls made to the complainants as “extremely abusive”.

Police vehemently opposed Mr Walker’s bail, alleging he had demonstrated a “concerning pattern of behaviour” and would attempt to intimidate or harm the complainants if released.

“The accused refuses to change his behaviour towards women and continues to intimidate women, including his own mother, while in jail and attempts to have those women not attend court,” police alleged.

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Police told the court if Mr Walker was released, the woman he allegedly threatened from prison would flee and “seek refuge in a shelter to hide from him”.

Magistrate Trieu Huynh said Mr Walker was charged with “really serious offences” relating to alleged “physical assaults and protracted abuse and degradation” against two women.

Attempting to pervert the course of justice carries a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment.

Mr Walker’s bail was refused and the case was adjourned to May 14.