Former army patrolman, Steven Malcolm Francis Barkley, 27, sentenced for NRL final DV assault

A former army patrolman who punched the mother of his child in the head because she wouldn’t unlock her social media accounts, has been sentenced for his ongoing “deplorable” behaviour.

A man who drunkenly punched the mother of his child in the head on NRL grand final night after she wouldn’t unlock her social media accounts has been sentenced for his ongoing ”deplorable” behaviour. Image: NRL anti-violence campaign.

A former army patrolman who punched the mother of his child in the head on NRL grand final night because she wouldn’t unlock her social media accounts has been sentenced for his ongoing “deplorable” behaviour.

Mission River man, Steven Malcolm Francis Barkley, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of common assault after he punched his ex-partner in the face after he woke her up in the middle of the night.

The assault occurred after Barkley had been drinking and watching the NRL grand final.

Police prosecutor Tara Nona told the court Barkley turned up at the house and demanded the woman log into her Facebook and Instagram accounts.

“He pushed her to the rear of the property and demanded she log into the accounts and she refused,” she said.

“She told him they were no longer together.

“He has then punched her to the left side of her face, she ran away and logged into the accounts as she feared what he would do next.

“He has then left the property saying ‘I am going to fight all of the boys in your friends list’ hitting himself in the head multiple times with a beer bottle he held in his hand.”

Magistrate James Morton called Barkley’s behaviour “coercive control at its best” and a classic case of domestic violence.

“One punch is too many,” he said.

Ms Nona told the court Barkley had a history of domestic violence including a time when he returned home drunk and threatened to “damage” his partner and “sling this baby” before punching her in the forehead.

Defence counsel James Ellis-Smith told the court Barkely previously served as an army patrolman in the 51st Battalion Far North division receiving an operational service medal before he was discharged in 2023 due to his offending.

Barkley who grew up in Napranum also worked as a station hand at the Batavia Station near Weipa.

Mr Morton told Barkley his victim must have been in “absolute fear” when she let him in.

“This is disgraceful conduct and we are here again,” he said.

Mr Morton sentenced Barkley to 15 months imprisonment with a parole release date of the day of sentence citing 98 days already served in custody.

Originally published as Former army patrolman, Steven Malcolm Francis Barkley, 27, sentenced for NRL final DV assault