Serial domestic abuser Edward Dessmann jailed for three years and six months

A serial domestic abuser will spend years locked up for attacks on women and a child, with a judge slamming his victim-blaming excuses.

Edward Dessmann was jailed over attacks on women and a child. Picture: Facebook

A serial domestic abuser will spend years behind bars over a series of violent assaults on partners and a child.

The horrific abuse inflicted by Edward Dessmann was laid bare in the County Court of Victoria where he was sentenced to a maximum of five years and six months imprisonment for attacking multiple females, including with weapons.

Dessmann had a lengthy existing family violence history when he was found guilty of the attacks, which included him punching his partner in the mouth and threatening to kill her while wielding a knife as she was preparing to leave him in 2017.

He soon entered a new relationship with a woman he bit on the face after accusing her of taking his phone during an argument in a car in South Yarra early the following year.

Members of the public ran to the woman’s aid as Dessmann blamed his victim, screaming “she bit me, f--king crazy b-tch, you bit me” before calling a mate and asking him to lie to police and say his partner was the aggressor.

The woman, who sought protection from Dessmann, was charged with assault following the mens’ false declarations. Charges were later withdrawn.

Dessmann must serve at least three years and six months behind bars. Picture: Facebook

Judge Claire Quin denounced Dessmann’s victim-blaming actions, describing them as “planned and premeditated” and causing further harm to his victim.

“Your preparedness and determination to interfere with proper administration of justice was consistent with your attitude to those who you wanted to control,” Judge Quin said.

“You were clearly prepared to stick to your statement for a period after it was made despite the potential serious consequences for (your victim).”

Dessmann also pleaded guilty to a series of assaults involving a girl, whom he kicked and punched in 2019, causing her tooth to come loose.

“You kicked her in the ribs. She extended her legs to maintain distance from you. You then delivered a strong punch to the middle of her right thigh, causing bruising and immediate numbness,” Judge Quin said.

“At some point during this series of assaults, you went back upstairs and grabbed her handbag. You used the bag to repeatedly hit her on the head, and the buckle eventually broke. (The girl) felt strong pain, sustained several lumps on her head and had a loose front tooth.”

He also asked the girl to pose in a photo with a handgun which was at one point loaded with bullets, the court heard.

Dessmann had a significant family violence history, criminal convictions in Victoria, NSW and QLD, and poses a “very high” family violence recidivism risk if unsupported in dealing with anger, psychological and violence issues, according to legal documents.

Judge Quin said “women who involve themselves in a relationship are entitled to feel safe both physically and emotionally in that situation”.

“They should be protected from violence, harassment, abuse and threats from a dominant and controlling partner.”

Dessmann will serve a minimum of three years and six months behind bars before being eligible for parole.