Brutal woman basher and repeat domestic violence thug Gary Albert faces Northern Territory Supreme Court on eight charges

A violent brute’s horrific history of bashing multiple Territory woman can be exposed after he attacked a woman with an axe, power cord, torch and a burning log. WARNING: GRAPHIC

A brutal thug repeatedly beat, choked, suffocated and burned a woman during two years of “demeaning” and relentless abuse across the Northern Territory.

Gary Albert faced the Northern Territory Supreme Court on November 17, pleading guilty to six charges of aggravated assault and two charges of choking.

The 54-year-old was sentenced to seven years in jail for a series of abhorrent and horrific attacks on his former female partner.

The litany of violence outlined in court documents reveal the grotesque levels the domestic violence monster dished out to the victim between June 2021 and October 2022 at Minyerri, Mataranka and Jilkminggan.

Albert has been convicted for bashing people – mainly female victims – 34 times and has spent long periods in jail.

“I’m not frightened of going to jail. I’m a jailbird and prison is my home,” he told his most recent victim.

The attacks on his partner included beatings with an axe, a torch, his fists and sticks, Justice Judith Kelly told the offender while sentencing him.

He also whipped her with an electrical cord, slapped her with an open hand and choked and suffocated her.

In one particularly terrifying assault, Albert grabbed a long piece of burning wood and – swinging it like a baseball bat - smashed the victim around the head.

As she lay on the ground, surrounded by - and covered in - red hot burning coals, he grabbed the woman’s hair and repeatedly slammed her head into the earth.

This caused her to suffer more burns.

The victim begged relatives for help, telling them “I can’t move - I’m paining all over.”

Albert then blamed the victim for her own injuries saying she “fell over while drunk”.

Her injuries included extensive and deep burns, swollen and busted ears and severe bruises around her chest, eyes, skull and spine.

The victim spent about eight weeks in hospital.

“You targeted vulnerable areas of her body, in particular, her head,” Justice Kelly said.

“Some of the things you did to her were brutal and demeaning.

“You had no concern for her welfare. For example, you just left her lying on the ground and told her to get up and follow you.

“You made no effort to get medical help for her on any one of those occasions.”

The victim explained the ongoing impacts of the trauma Albert subjected her to.

“I was scared for my life. I was so scared,” she said in a victim impact statement.

“Being in a relationship with Gary Albert has changed my life.

“I’m scared and frightened of him. Gary Albert has beaten me for the last two years.

“I am constantly suffering from emotional abuse.

“Because of all the beatings I have suffered, I want Gary Albert locked up for good. I do not want to see Gary Albert ever again.”

The women's action march against violence in Alice Springs was held to raise awareness about domestic and family violence in the red centre. Photo: EMMA MURRAY

Justice Kelly acknowledged Albert had a rough childhood marred by violence and substance abuse and he suffered post-traumatic stress disorder as a result.

He was also addicted to alcohol, she said.

Albert apologised each time he fronted court, but he continued offending, revealing - Justice Kelly said – that he was not taking responsibility for being violent.

His criminal history included 34 assaults, breaches of multiple domestic violence orders, suspended sentences, parole and other court orders; and a raft of driving offences.

“Thirty-four times you have bashed mostly women - community protection looms very high on the list of priorities in sentencing you,” Justice Kelly said.

“There is far too much violent crime in our community, especially directed against Aboriginal women, usually by their partners or former partners.

“I have to impose a sentence that sends a strong message about just how much the court and the community in general disapproves of these kinds of violent crimes.

“I have to impose a sentence that will discourage other people from doing things like this.”

Albert must serve 5.5 years of the seven-year head sentence.

Justice Kelly said an application for a 20-year domestic violence order would be made at a later date.