Karl McDowell jailed at Bendigo Magistrates Court for beating woman with wooden bed slat

A Bendigo man brutally bashed a woman with a wooden bed slat before terrorising random homeowners during a drunken rampage while bleeding from the face.

Karl McDowell was jailed for brutally beating a woman in Bendigo. Picture: Contributed

A Bendigo man has been jailed for beating a woman with a wooden bed slat, before terrorising random homeowners during a drunken rampage.

Karl McDowell, aged in his 30s, was on Monday jailed for seven months having pleaded guilty at Bendigo Magistrates Court to intentionally causing injury, and pleading guilty to wilful damage and disorderly conduct on January 11.

The court heard that just after midnight on October 24, McDowell brutally beat a woman during a heated argument at a California Gully home.

McDowell grabbed a wooden bed slat and savagely attacked the woman, hitting her in the arm and leg causing large purple bruises.

Karl McDowell was jailed for bashing a woman. Photo: iStock

As she raised her hands to protect herself, McDowell yelled “this will be the end of you”, smashing the bed slat into her hand, fracturing her finger.

The victim called police and McDowell fled on foot. The victim was hospitalised and McDowell was arrested the next day.

During a police interview, McDowell denied the vicious attack, claiming the victim had caused the injuries to herself to try and frame him for “revenge”.

Later in October, McDowell went on a drunken rampage across Bendigo, the court heard.

Karl McDowell’s victim was hospitalised. Picture: istock

In one incident, McDowell walked into a Coles supermarket, ripped his shirt off and verbally abused staff before approaching a random Bendigo property and started kicking the door, yelling and screaming.

When the homeowner answered the door, McDowell demanded he call him a taxi.

McDowell then went to the house next door, yelling at the owner to call him a taxi.

As the homeowner called police, McDowell ripped a hole in the fly screen door before taking off.

McDowell has a history of violence, the court heard.

Police found McDowell running on Thistle St bleeding from his face.

Backup was called to arrest McDowell as his “behaviour escalated”.

McDowell told police he was homeless, living in a tent in Kangaroo Flat, the court heard.

Magistrate Johanna Metcalf said the court had to send a message to the community that violence against women was “unacceptable”.

“That would have been a very frightening experience for the victim and one which was totally unacceptable,” she said.

Ms Metcalf accepted McDowell suffered from a raft of mental health issues and had since showed remorse and “shame” for his offending.

McDowell was jailed for seven months, taking into account the 87 days served on remand