Geelong West man Jok Gar punched woman, threatened to kill her with knife

A Geelong West man who punched a woman and threatened to kill her with a knife then turned his frustrations on a female police officer.

Jok Gar threatened to kill two women in front of young children. Picture: Eyewatch Geelong/Facebook.

A Geelong West man who threatened to kill two people in front of children has been told he needs to change his attitude towards women.

An argument between Jok Gar, 19, and two women over how long one spent in the bathroom erupted when he threw the youngest of the women onto a bed and punched her in the head.

Gar, who pleaded guilty to making threats to kill and assault charges, then grabbed a kitchen knife and threatened to kill the women.

The Geelong Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday that two children, aged eight and three, were in the house when Gar began yelling “at the top of his voice” about killing the women.

When police arrived, one of the victims was crying hysterically at the door and screaming “he’s got a knife, my kids are in there”.

Police “negotiated” Gar out of the house, where he became verbally abusive with the officers and the two women.

The court heard Gar said: “I’ll stab you, I don’t care”.

Gar then made sexist comments towards a female police officer.

When questioned by police at the station, Gar admitted to threatening to stab the women but said he had no intention to.

Gar told the officers he wanted to “intimidate them because they wouldn’t get out of his face”.

He also added his “actions were reasonable and he had permission from himself to threaten” them, the court heard.

Gar’s defence lawyer, Stephanie Mawby, said he was “perplexed as to why he’s acted this way”.

“He is incredibly remorseful that he treated (the victims) in this disrespectful and violent manner,” Ms Mawby said.

Police told the court it was “serious” offending.

“The nature and gravity of this offence is immense,” police submitted.

Magistrate Ann McGarvie agreed not to convict Gar because of his age but said he needs counselling.

“What concerns me is that this offending is against two vulnerable women and when he’s out with police, he’s making sexist comments about female police members,” Ms McGarvie said.

“That leads me to consider he has an attitude about women and their place in society and he needs to change that attitude.

“The only way that is likely to change is through some sort of treatment course.”

Gar was placed on an adjourned undertaking for three years, meaning he cannot reoffend in that time or risk being resentenced.

He was also ordered to complete a men’s behaviour change program.

Originally published as Geelong West man Jok Gar punched woman, threatened to kill her with knife