Dean Wallis in Dandenong Magistrates’ after assaulting his partner
A former Hastings man, who assaulted his partner, broke down in tears as the full details of his terrifying actions were read out in court.
South East
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A court in Melbourne’s south east has seen a man become overwhelmed by emotion as he listened to the detailed outline of his offending.
Dean Wallis, 40, fronted Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Friday, where he pleaded guilty to assault charges and for failing to appear under his bail conditions.
The court heard Wallis had assaulted his ex-partner following an argument in a squat house they shared together in Hastings in 2020.
Following an argument where the victim would not give her handbag to Wallis, he followed her into a bathroom, verbally abusing her.
The argument escalated and Wallis pushed his victim to the ground before assaulting her.
The victim went to their neighbours for help, and Wallis fled the scene before police arrived.
Wallis left his victim with bruises to her head, back and arms, and drag marks on her back.
Wallis also refused to be interviewed by police regarding the offending, and later denied assaulting the victim., saying “I did not assault, I did not lay a hand on her”.
During the detailing of this offending, Wallis, appearing in court via video link from Fulham Correctional Centre, became visibly emotional.
He wiped his eyes and quietly sobbed for the duration of the hearing.
Wallis was represented by lawyer Travis Brown, who followed up the summary of his offending with a “particularly sad” history of his client.
“Mr Wallis’ drug use commenced at age 13, where he shortly after developed a heroin addiction as a teenager,” Mr Brown said.
“He quit heroin quite suddenly after a number of his friends’ passed away from overdoses.”
Mr Brown said the death of his friends was an “extremely traumatic” event for Wallis.
The court heard that Wallis had also been sober for the past two years after his partner became pregnant, and that he was suffering from suspected bipolar disorder and lung cancer.
Wallis also told the court he had begun work with a therapist since being in custody.
The hearing was adjourned to Tuesday, June 14.
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