Gympie abuser released on parole after 42 days in jail

The 25-year-old breached a domestic violence order multiple times in two days, turning up at her house, trying to contact her and verbally abusing her

A 25-year-old breached a domestic violence order multiple times in two days, turning up at the victim’s house, trying to contact her and verbally abusing her​.

A 25-year-old Gympie man was released on parole on Tuesday after spending 42 days in jail awaiting sentencing on four charges, three of them breaching a domestic violence order.

The man appeared in custody via video link, and pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and the DVO breaches.

Throughout his appearance, a person sitting in the court’s public gallery could be heard sobbing and seen wiping away tears.

Police prosecutor Michael Phillips said in relation to the man’s prior history, he once breached a DVO when an argument between he and the pregnant victim turned violent, with him forcibly pushing her into a chair.

When he then tried to leave the house with their child, the victim tried to remove the child from his arms, the court heard.

The man fought back, and grazed the victim’s arm during the struggle.

Sergeant Phillips said for these offences, the man repeatedly contravened the order by showing up at the same victim’s home and trying to contact her.

“He’s refusing to leave the house, he’s arguing with the aggrieved, he’s also intimidated the aggrieved in that instance,” he said.

“The very next day ... he called (her) 17 times.”

The man was arrested and released on bail before going back to the victim’s house, accompanied by police, to collect some belongings.

Upon entering the house, he verbally abused the victim and another person, contravening the order a third time.

Defence lawyer Chris Anderson said his client accepted he was to blame for the offending.

Magistrate Kurt Fowler said the most concerning aspect was two of the offences occurred on the same day.

“You’d been released, you’d returned to collect items, and then you behaved in an offensive way,” he said.

The man was sentenced to eight months jail, but released on parole immediately.

Originally published as Gympie abuser released on parole after 42 days in jail