Jealous husband assaulted his former wife in front of toddler in a fit of anger over a phone call

It was only a phone call. But a truck driver has faced court after becoming enraged and attacking his wife in front of their child after believing she was talking to a boyfriend in a Hughesdale backyard.

A “big man” who pushed his then-wife in a fit of jealously has been warned if he had hurt her he would have gone to jail. Generic picture: iStock

A “big man” who attacked his then-wife in a fit of jealously as their child watched on has been warned if he had hurt her he would have gone to jail.

Tasos Petrakis, 52, pleaded guilty to assault at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court last Friday.

Petrakis had overheard his wife speaking on the phone and, in the belief she was talking to a boyfriend, verbally and physically abused her.

The court heard the woman, now his former wife, was in their Hughesdale backyard having a phone conversation about 8pm on April 7.

Petrakis, who had been in the garage, came storming out and confronted her.

He became aggressive, shouting “give me the f***ing phone”. The frightened woman fled to a storage room inside the house in a bid for refuge.

The couple’s young toddler was nearby as Petrakis followed the woman inside, pushing her in the chest with both hands, causing her to nearly fall over.

He went into the kitchen and ripped the landline out of the wall before picking up a wedding photo and smashing the frame on the ground.

The terrified woman called police but, by the time, her then-husband had left. She was not injured in the assault.

Petrakis went into a police station the next day to tell them “there had been a domestic” but wouldn’t comment further.

His defence lawyer said the interstate truck driver suspected unfaithfulness and was packing to leave the “toxic environment” when the events took place.

He said his client had only put his hands on her to get past to collect his belongings and, while he agreed it was assault, it was at the “lowest end” of the scale.

Petrakis’ lawyer said his client was a “pretty simple man” who misinterpreted situations and became easily upset.

He said his client was now attending men’s behavioural counselling to address his issues.

It was revealed in court Petrakis was involved in a road rage fight when he was 24.

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Magistrate Daniel Muling said children should not have to witness such violence.

“You’re a big man. I can only guess she is of smaller stature; it was not a level playing field,” Mr Muling said.

“Children suffer permanent scarring when something like this occurs.

“I accept this was at the lower end; if it was any more serious, it would be imprisonment.”

Petrakis was convicted and fined $750.