‘Two black eyes and bruising to the jaw’: man used electrical cord to attack woman

The 45-year-old punched her several times in the face and body, before tying her hands behind her back with a steam mop cord

The 45-year-old punched her several times in the face and body, before tying her hands behind her back with a steam mop cord.​

Gympie man Douglas Seaman was sentenced to three years jail on Monday after being convicted over a bloody and brutal attack that involved a steam mop cord, and which left a woman with two black eyes, multiple bruising to her right jaw, and bruising over her back and shoulders.

Seaman, 45, faced Gympie District Court via video link from custody where he has spent the past 338 days.

He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, possession of a weapon and breaching bail.

The court heard the bashing began when the victim told Seaman she was leaving.

Crown Prosecutor Stephanie Gallagher Seaman assaulted the woman by punching her several times in the face and body, before tying her hands behind her back with a steam mop cord.

“(He) ...pushed his hand against her neck forcefully, and squeezed her neck in a way that led to bruises but did not restrict her breathing,” the court heard.

When he was taken to the watch house following the attack, he told police the woman was “crazy”.

“He said that she had set him up, and denied being in a relationship with her, and he suggested the injuries he gave her were from other people,” the court heard.

Ms Gallagher said Seaman’s previous offending showed he had a disregard for court orders, having breached several in his history.

Judge Bernie Porter described Seaman’s crimes as serious offences.

“(The victim) had two black eyes, multiple bruising to her right jaw, bruising over her back and shoulders,” he said.

Seaman was sentenced to three years in jail but was released on parole on Monday, having already served 338 days in custody.

Editor's note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Mr Seaman was found guilty of grievous bodily harm, and that a taser was involved in the assault. Mr Seaman was convicted of assault occasioning bodily harm, and possession of the taser. The Gympie Times apologises for the error.

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE GYMPIE TIMES LANDING PAGE

Originally published as ‘Two black eyes and bruising to the jaw’: man used electrical cord to attack woman