Drugged thug jailed after violent New Year’s assault on police officer, girlfriend
A “caring, empathetic” man who grabbed his partner by the throat and shoved her into the ground had been using ice and drinking alcohol. The woman’s screams brought neighbours running to help, Frankston Magistrates Court has heard.
South East
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A violent thug who was on ice when he kicked at a police officer and assaulted his girlfriend after New Year’s Eve celebrations on the Mornington Peninsula has been jailed.
And despite throwing his girlfriend to the ground by the throat and shoving her into the dirt, the man was described as “caring, empathetic, intelligent and a positive influence” in glowing character references including one from the victim who supported him at Frankston Magistrates Court.
Horrified neighbours flocked to a Rosebud address when they heard a woman screaming following the unprovoked outburst just after 12.45am on January 1.
The ex-labourer, whose name was suppressed, had been using ice and was drinking before he unleashed the wild attack after changing a tyre on a vehicle on the street.
Police alleged the tyre blew after the man did burnouts in an unregistered red Holden sedan on Waterfall Gully Rd.
When his girlfriend approached him as he changed the tyre, the man snapped, smacking her phone out of her hands and squeezing at her throat before placing one hand over her mouth as she tried to scream.
And when the woman tried to get away, he grabbed her by the throat for a second time before throwing her into the ground and shoving her face into the dirt.
Appearing via video link, the man said “bulls***” as the informant described the moment when police arrived and he approached them while holding the tyre lever.
“When the accused realised (police were approaching) he walked back (but then) came back,” the informant said.
“(While in handcuffs) he started kneeing himself in the head and kicked at the police officer.
“He was pushed back into the garden bed and split his head.”
The woman was treated for marks consistent with choking around her throat, marks on her legs and had dirt on her face.
The police officer escaped uninjured and the man was taken to Rosebud Police Station where further investigation determined he was earlier performing burnouts which were believed to have led to a blown tyre.
Defence lawyer Ben Hanley told the court his client suffered from mental health issues including anxiety, schizophrenia, psychosis and PTSD sustained from a random assault in July last year.
And in two glowing character reference letters, the man — who’d already spent 91 days in custody — was described as “caring, empathetic, intelligent and a positive influence.”
“At New Year’s Eve with (his) partner and friends and methamphetamine and alcohol (my client) was not in the right frame of mind,” Mr Hanley said.
“The victim is very supportive and is aware of his drug history.
“His past three months in custody have been quite traumatic.”
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Magistrate Charles Tan acknowledged the man had spent 91 days in custody and the victim’s support but said her attitude wouldn’t make the charges “go away”.
“I know she’s being supportive and says that’s not what he’s really like, but that’s not why he’s before the court,’ he said.
“Men can’t be grabbing women around a vulnerable part of their body … it can have dire consequences.
“Just because of the attitude (of the victim) it doesn’t go away.”
The man pleaded guilty to recklessly cause injury and was jailed for three months on top of a 15 month community corrections order to be served upon release.
brittany.goldsmith@news.com.au