Corbett John Lawton sentenced for Mount Morgan assault

A Central Queensland man who was in bed with his partner lost it when she wouldn’t turn off her mobile phone and a series of punches followed.

Police were called to a Mount Morgan home where a woman was assaulted. Generic image.

A Central Queensland man who punched his partner in the face multiple times after she refused to turn off her mobile phone while they were in bed, has faced court.

Corbett John Lawton, 62, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Tuesday to assault of a person over 60.

Police prosecutor Claudia Neill-Ballantine said on August 29, Lawton and the female victim were in bed when the former said: “Turn the f---ing phone off or I’ll smash it.”

Ms Neill-Ballantine said the woman refused to turn the mobile phone off and Lawton attempted to grab it.

The prosecutor said after the woman moved away from Lawton, he punched her in the face.

The woman left the bedroom and called Triple 0.

Ms Neill-Ballantine said the woman asked Lawton to leave and he punched her in the face two more times, causing her to stumble and lose balance.

The woman was able to get Lawton to leave the home and she then locked the front door in fear of being attacked again, the court heard.

Lawton had a one-page criminal history which did not have any previous offences of violence.

A solicitor said Lawton and the woman had been in a relationship however after this incident, they had separated.

The solicitor said Lawton was currently not employed, having previously done cattle work.

Prior to imposing penalty, Magistrate Cameron Press said what Lawton did was “appalling behaviour.”

He placed Lawton on 18 months’ probation and a conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Corbett John Lawton sentenced for Mount Morgan assault