Paul Francis Anderson sentenced for shocking domestic violence attack

A woman suffered ‘large’ bruises when she was attacked by her partner of 23 years, but after he ‘charged’ at her with a rifle, she was so scared she fled downstairs and hid in a cardboard box.

Paul Francis Anderson, 59, has been sentenced in Yeppoon Magistrates Court after a shocking domestic violence attack on his partner. Generic image.

A Central Queensland man has been sentenced after he struck his partner of more than two decades with a rifle in a shocking domestic violence attack.

Paul Francis Anderson, 59, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on Thursday to assault occasioning bodily harm (domestic violence offence).

The court heard the victim and Anderson had been in a relationship for 23 years.

Police prosecutor Corey O’Connor said on November 23, Anderson and the woman were drinking alcohol at their Taranganba residence.

Mr O’Connor said the woman called Anderson a “f***ing idiot” and he then grabbed both of her arms “hard and squeezed tightly”.

The woman eventually pulled away.

Mr O’Connor said Anderson then went to a gun safe, got a rifle and went to a bedroom.

“(The woman) went upstairs and saw (Anderson) laying on the bed with the rifle over his body and the barrel towards the door,” Mr O’Connor said.

“(She) took a picture with her phone.”

The prosecutor said Anderson responded by saying “Did you take a good picture?”

“(Anderson) then stood straight up and held the gun parallel to the floor, and charged at (the woman).

“(She) was struck in the chest with the rifle and pushed back across the room until she fell over.”

Yeppoon Courthouse.

Mr O’Connor said the woman, feeling “extremely fearful”, fled downstairs and hid in a cardboard box.

“(The woman) called her son to collect her and she left the house.”

Mr O’Connor said the woman suffered large bruises to both of her arms during the incident, as well as to her right shoulder.

“Once the adrenaline wore off (she) was in pain, and was still in pain five days later when she made the report to police.”

The court heard Anderson had no criminal history in Queensland, however his Western Australian criminal history contained a common assault offence that was domestic violence related.

A solicitor said Anderson and the woman were originally from Western Australia and they had recently moved to Yeppoon.

“The relationship however, since this incident occurred, is now over.

“He (Anderson) has accepted that.”

The solicitor said Anderson planned to move back to Western Australia “as soon as possible.”

She said Anderson was currently not employed but he had a long history of working as a truck driver and in construction.

The solicitor said since moving to Yeppoon, Anderson and his partner had been living off their savings.

“They have recently had some financial stress as a result of him not working and that has contributed to the circumstances that led to what happened that day (of the offending).

“He’s extremely remorseful and that’s indicated in his plea at the earliest opportunity.”

Acting Magistrate Stephen Byrne sentenced Anderson to four months’ jail, wholly suspended for 12 months.

He also gave Anderson the following advice.

“If you commit an offence punishable by imprisonment, you can be dragged back before this court - Magistrates Court of Queensland - and a magistrate can determine whether you should serve all, some or none of the four months.

“If it’s anything like the offending before the court today, just bring your toothbrush because you’ll be doing most of the four months, if not all of that.”

A conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Paul Francis Anderson sentenced for shocking domestic violence attack