Jamie Keith Thomas pleads guilty to suffocation
A Bundaberg man launched a vicious assault on a woman after kicking in her front door, almost suffocating her, but he will be out on parole in less than two months.
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A Bundaberg man will spend the next month in jail after pleading guilty to suffocating a woman.
Jamie Keith Thomas pleaded guilty to eight offences in the Bundaberg District Court on April 12, 2023, including suffocation in a domestic setting, unlawful use of a car and possessing a knife in a public place.
The court heard it was around 9.30pm on November 3, 2019 when the mechanic went to the woman’s house but was told to leave.
It heard he left the scene but returned “almost immediately” and began kicking and damaging the front fence, then kicked open the front door.
From there the court heard Thomas followed his victim into the main bedroom, where he grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to the ground.
Judge Allen KC summarised the offence to Thomas and said “you got on top of her and covered her mouth and nose with your hand, she could not breathe”.
“You threatened her; yelling ‘shut the f--- up or I’ll kill you’.”
The court heard the woman was able to break loose from his grasp, but was unable to flee before he punched her twice in the back of the head.
“The offence is serious because it’s been recognised such behaviour can be a precursor to more serious injury or even death,” said Mr KC.
Crown prosecutor Annica Fritz told the court Thomas had a history of jail time, which had not acted as a “deterrent” for other offending.
It was revealed he had a history of drug abuse, which had fuelled some of his past offending.
Barrister Jens Streit appeared on behalf of Thomas and said the incident “arose in the context of a domestic argument that escalated out of control, the out of control part was on behalf of my client”.
“He had an ongoing challenge with remaining drug free, he’s used ice on and off for eight years with significant consequence to him,” Mr Streit said.
Mr KC called on Thomas to take advantage of the parole period offered to him to seek rehabilitation, work and to remain drug free.
“The harm that you have caused to the victim goes beyond the physical injuries and includes emotional and psychological harm,” he said.
Thomas was sentenced to two years six months imprisonment on the suffocation charge, with a conviction recorded.
His presentence custody of 259 days were declared as time served, and he will be released on parole on May 27, 2023.
On all remaining charges he was convicted and not further punished.
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Originally published as Jamie Keith Thomas pleads guilty to suffocation
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