Mackay man manipulates former partner threatening suicide if she terminated her pregnancy

A Mackay man made a video pretending to commit suicide and sent it to his former partner in a spate of emotionally manipulative incidents breaching DV orders.

A Mackay man told he could never have children announced his former partner’s pregnancy on social media begging her not to terminate the baby, continually contravening a domestic violence order.

The spate of harassment started in February when he shared a picture of the ultrasound and publicly pleaded with her to keep it.

He also sent her a video pretending to commit suicide, telling the woman, “I’m feeling suicidal and it’s your fault.”

The 30 year old, who cannot be identified so as to protect his victim, cried intermittently in court on Friday as his offending was read out.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard a few days after making and sending the video in February, the man deposited money in the woman’s account and again pleaded with her not to terminate the pregnancy.

He was given a suspended sentence for those actions but again breached the domestic violence order in March, and given immediate parole.

While on parole the man contacted again contacted his former partner, breaching the domestic violence order and he was taken into custody.

By August 13, he had faced court for the sixth time for breaching the order.

The man appeared in court via videolink and pleaded guilty to breaching a domestic violence order.

Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan said while the man’s offending was not “violent”, the ongoing and relentless nature made it a serious matter and given his behaviour in the past, a suspended sentence would be a “joke”.

“Imprisonment is a last resort, but for you and your history … Imprisonment is appropriate,” Mrs Hartigan said.

“You have not been a physically violent person, you have not even been a verbally violent person, you just can’t accept this relationship is over.”

“No more text messages, no letters, don’t go to her house, do it legally.”

The man was sentenced to four months which was to be served in jail.

He is expected to be released on October 6.

Originally published as Mackay man manipulates former partner threatening suicide if she terminated her pregnancy