Ingof Hohmann: Former Lilydale High School cleaner arrested, faces court

A recently retired cleaner from a Lilydale high school has faced court after being arrested over outstanding warrants for scratching his wife.

A former Lilydale High School cleaner missed three scheduled court appearances due to poor memory, was arrested and spent a night in custody. Picture: Facebook

A former cleaner at Lilydale High School has spent a night in custody after he scratched his wife during an argument.

Ingof Hohmann, 66, appeared at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday after he was arrested the night before on outstanding warrants.

The court heard Hohmann got into an argument with his wife at their home in June 2021, which left her with minor scratches on her forearm and light scratches elsewhere on her body.

In another incident later in the year, Hofmann called his wife “stupid” while she was teaching Chinese to two children, aged nine and 11, and to speak English instead.

Hohmann, who pleaded guilty to unlawful assault, had missed three scheduled court appearances since the incidents, which his defence lawyer Royce Deckker said was due to “bouts of forgetfulness”.

Mr Decker said Hohmann had recently retired from being a cleaner at Lilydale High School and his relationship with his wife had being “going well” over the past year.

Magistrate Michael Wighton accepted Hohmann’s reason for not appearing at court was due to his memory issues, and urged him to see a doctor.

But he said his behaviour towards his partner was more serious, and was “no way to treat your wife”.

Responding from the custody box, Hohmann agreed and said it was “no way to treat any lady”.

Mr Wighton told Hohmann he couldn’t let similar situations escalate, and assumed his behaviour was out of character given his lack of prior offending.

He released Hohmann without conviction and placed him on a 12-month good behaviour bond.