Central Queensland man used ‘controlling behaviour’ in domestic violence offending against his ex-partner

Disturbing details of how a Central Queensland man tried to control his former partner and stop her from going out to socialise after they separated have been revealed in court. Read the shocking things he said to her, here.

Details of “controlling behaviour” used in domestic violence offending have been heard in a Central Queensland court. Generic image.

A Central Queensland man who used “controlling behaviour” towards his ex-partner, including trying to stop her from going out to socialise after they separated, has faced court for domestic violence offending.

The 35-year-old man, who by law cannot be named, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on May 19 to breaching a domestic violence order.

This case followed the Queensland Government last month announcing that coercive control would be criminalised in Queensland as part of a historic $363 million investment to better protect women against domestic violence.

The Yeppoon court heard the man’s offending happened between March 14 and 18 this year and the aggrieved was a woman in her 30s.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Kevin Ongheen said at 8pm on March 11, the woman went to a hotel on the Capricorn Coast and about 11.50pm she caught a cab home.

Sgt Ongheen said one of the man’s friends saw the woman at the hotel and he later told the man about her being at the venue.

The prosecutor said on March 15, the man contacted the woman by phone, saying words to the effect of: “Where the f... were you Friday night?”

The woman replied saying she was at the hotel.

Sgt Ongheen said the man then said something like: “The only reason women go out is to be hit on by men. You need to tell me right now that you will not go out any more. And if you think you are going out anywhere, you need to tell me where you are and you need to be home at a decent time, like a proper time.”

The man said he was angry and upset at the time because he did not know that the woman was going out and that she had lied to him, Sgt Ongheen said.

Also on March 15, the man sent an email to the woman, stating: “Tell me when you get home. Now it’s f...ing lying to me and getting pissed and going out all night. No f...ing way. GTFO (Get the f... out) of my life.”

The man was later interviewed by police and charged.

Sgt Ongheen told the court that the man had “no similar domestic violence history”, however he had previously been sentenced in another Queensland court to a suspended jail term (now expired) for assault occasioning bodily harm - a domestic violence offence - with a conviction recorded.

“This (latest offence) however, is concerning behaviour and in domestic violence training provided to police, controlling behaviour is a red flag,” Sgt Ongheen said.

“The prosecution seek a lengthy period of probation to assist the defendant, or if the court was minded, a wholly suspended period of imprisonment.”

Acting Magistrate Ron Muirhead asked the man’s solicitor Krissy Cummins if the previous domestic violence offence was committed against the same woman, and she confirmed that it had been.

Mr Muirhead noted the penalty for the previous offence, saying: “So it was obviously quite a serious assault.”

Ms Cummins said the man was employed and a father.

She said the man and woman were separated when this offending happened, and the man instructed that his ex-partner had been wanting to come back and live with him at the time.

Ms Cummins said there had been ongoing arguments between the pair and the man accepted that his actions were not the right way to deal with things.

Mr Muirhead said this was a “borderline case” as to whether imprisonment should be imposed.

He placed the man on 12 months’ probation with conditions.

A conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Central Queensland man used ‘controlling behaviour’ in domestic violence offending against his ex-partner