Six domestic violence offenders in Gympie court
Sickening violence and intimidation of women and in one case, an old man, landed these six men before the Gympie magistrate this week, and at least two of them in jail
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Domestic violence continues to be a sickening scourge on our community, and six men were dealt with in two days by the Gympie Magistrates Court this week for abusing women and, in once case, an elderly man - the defendant’s father.
These men cannot be named for legal reasons.
1. 21-year-old forced partner to her knees and took her phone when she tried to call police
The man fronted Gympie Magistrates Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to two breaches of a domestic violence order against his then-partner, one of which occurred 10 days after his last court appearance.
The court heard he showed up at the victim’s home about 2am on January 28, 2021, prompting her to call the police.
On February 8, he went to her house again, this time letting himself in.
Police prosecutor Melissa Campbell said the man prevented his partner from calling the police by pulling her into a tight “bear hug” before he took her phone off her.
The victim bit his hand to free herself then called police.
He was sentenced to three months jail, suspended for 12 months.
2. Role-model dad attacked partner while she was holding tw0-year-old son
A 22-year-old Gympie man attacked his partner three times in three weeks, including once while she held their two-year-old son.
He pleaded guilty in Gympie Magistrates Court on Monday to four breaches of a domestic violence order, and two counts of unlicensed driving.
He was fined $300, disqualified from driving for six months, and sentenced to six months jail, suspended for 15 months.
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3. Husband fined for text messages to estranged wife and for leaving items at her job
A 63-year-old Tin Can Bay man pleaded guilty to two breaches of a DVO when he fronted Gympie Magistrates Court on Monday.
The court heard he sent two text messages of the letter X to his estranged wife, which she interpreted as symbolic of a kiss.
He also left items from his house at her work in the middle of the night for her to find the next day, which made her feel anxious.
His defence lawyer said his client didn’t realise dropping items off for her to find was in breach of the order, and that he didn’t mean to intimidate her.
He was fined $1000 for both offences.
4. Abuser tried to get out of jail by saying it was a ‘misunderstanding’
A 36-year-old Glenwood man tried to avoid jail by claiming a breach of a DVO was a misunderstanding and had since been resolved.
He pleaded guilty to the crime, and to failing to appear and possessing a bong, when he fronted court on Monday.
The court heard the man had verbally abused his partner while she was on the phone to a friend, and threatened to smash up the residence before leaving to ‘get a friend’.
When he returned some time later, the victim threatened to call police, and he snatched her phone away.
He was fined $300 for the drug offence and sentenced to four months jail for the DVO breach, but will only serve 21 days before the rest of his sentence is suspended for eight months.
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5. Traveston man abused his elderly father
The 34-year-old man fronted Gympie Magistrates Court on Tuesday for charges relating to the abuse of his elderly father in January, where he pleaded guilty to contravening a domestic violence order.
The court heard the man began aggressively banging on the doors and windows of his father’s house, demanding he be let in.
Once inside, he smashed a coffee mug on the ground, causing his father to call the police out of fear.
He was sentenced to three months jail, but was immediately released on parole for nine months.
6. 51-year-old father fined for verbal abuse in front of children
A Noosa father was fined $600 in Gympie Magistrates Court on Tuesday for two breaches of a DVO.
Both breaches related to verbal abuse he inflicted on the victim, his former wife, in front of his children.
The first encounter was as a result of a misunderstanding, where the man saw his ex-wife at the school when it was his turn to collect the kids.
The second time the divorced couple were forced to meet for their son’s equestrian competition at the Gympie Showgrounds, as the child was in his care and his ex-wife had the horses.
The court heard an argument ensued between the couple, which caused the children to cry.
He was fined $600 for both offences.
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Originally published as Six domestic violence offenders in Gympie court
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