Man attacks mother in front of children, leaving her struggling to breathe, in Carrum Downs
A mum was getting her kids ready for school on a Monday morning when she asked her partner to collect pre-ordered groceries from the supermarket. What happened next sent her son rushing to a nearby school shouting for help.
South East
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A woman-basher bear-hugged his former partner to the ground in front of their kids, leaving her struggling to breathe as he fled with his two daughters and her son rushed to a nearby school shouting for help, a court has heard.
Aaron Baker, 29, faced Frankston Magistrates’ Court yesterday on assault, resisting emergency worker and community correction order breach charges.
The court heard Baker and his former partner had been in an on-again, off-again relationship for five years and have two children together. The mum also has two other young children from a previous relationship.
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The family were at their Carrum Downs’ home on September 2 when, about 7am, she asked Baker to collect pre-ordered groceries from the supermarket while she got the kids ready for school.
But they argued and Baker scratched his former partner’s hand while trying to snatch her phone.
He forcibly bear-hugged her and they fell to the ground, where her head was restrained in a position where she struggled to breathe.
The children saw the attack and the mother yelled at her eldest child, aged eight, to phone police.
The boy ran over the road to the school, shouting for someone to call triple-0.
Baker put his two daughters and dog in the car and drove off.
But police were soon tracking his car and pounced after he parked in Hastings about 9.25am and got out to take the children and dog for a walk.
Baker resisted arrest, refusing to allow officers to put him in handcuffs, and kicked out at them before he was subdued and taken to the nearby police station.
His defence lawyer told the court Baker believed the handcuffs were too tight and, while he had struggled initially, soon became compliant.
She said the former baker, spray painter and fast food restaurant manager — who pleaded guilty — cared very much for his children and had written a letter to the court apologising for his actions.
The lawyer said it was Baker’s first time in custody and he had endured “a bad experience” behind bars as he was bashed by a fellow inmate while on remand.
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Magistrate Vicky Prapas said it was Baker’s third breach of a court order, and what occurred that day was “horrific” for the children.
Ms Prapas said the distress and impact on children seeing that sort of violence was irreparable.
“A child had to run across the road to get help for his mother,” Ms Prapas said.
“You keep inflicting pain on and injuring your former partner.
“Of most concern is that you did it in front of children.”
Baker was jailed for a total of four months, minus 49 days he has already served.