Mitchell Williamson pleads guilty to unlawful assault, stalking, drug-driving

He was in a “drug-induced, paranoid state” when he pinned a woman to a bed and pulled down her pants. She told a court he was a “monster”.

Michell Williamson appeared in Geelong Magistrates Court via videolink on Friday.

A Geelong gym buff terrorised and assaulted a woman, who labelled him a “monster” in a statement to court.

Mitchell Robert Williamson, 32, appeared in Geelong Magistrates Court via videolink on Friday and pleaded guilty to 41 charges, including unlawful assault, stalking and failing an oral fluid test within three hours of driving.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Alex Turner told the court that Williamson was in a “drug-induced paranoid state” when he pinned a woman down on a bed in March.

While holding the woman down with one hand, Williamson pulled her pants down with the other.

The woman resisted, “slapping and scratching him” but Williamson continued to hold her down.

When she did manage to escape, the woman locked herself in a bathroom and Williamson left before police arrived.

He was later seen by police watching her through her windows, but sped off on a motorbike before he could be arrested.

The court heard he drove also behind and followed the victim for 2km on the Princes Highway, and frequently called her.

Williamson was also caught drug-driving after stealing tools from a shed at Serendip Sanctuary.

Constable Turner told the court police attended the Lara wildlife sanctuary just after midnight on March 22.

Officers spotted a car with its lights on in the carpark, but when they approached the vehicle it took off, smashing through the gate.

Williamson was soon caught at his mother’s house in Norlane, and climbed onto the home’s roof when police arrived.

He was found with stolen cards, and a search of his car revealed stolen tools and accessories.

Williamson was found to have ice in his system at the time.

Constable Turner read out a victim impact statement from the woman in which she described Williamson as a “monster”.

Williamson’s lawyer told the court her client took full responsibility for his actions, and said he should be sentenced to time served plus a community-corrections order.

She said Williamson, who was audibly sniffling throughout the hearing, suffered from anxiety and depression, and his behaviour became increasingly erratic after he lost his job and turned to drug use.

Speaking from prison, Williamson told the court he was “deeply, truly ashamed of myself.”

The court heard Williamson will live with his mum when released, who runs a “tight ship” and won’t tolerate criminal behaviour.

Constable Turner “vehemently” disagreed with the defence’s proposition, and said Williamson needed to serve a longer sentence.

He said the victim’s statement “speaks to the absolute deterioration to her mental state, leading to terror”.

Magistrate Simon Guthrie said the matters were “significant” and became irritated by apparent laughter from the gallery.

“I don’t find any of this amusing … no-one should be subjected to this kind of behaviour,” he said.

Williamson will reappear in court on July 23.

Originally published as Mitchell Williamson pleads guilty to unlawful assault, stalking, drug-driving