Zachary Wayne Thomas Weldon sentenced for Rockhampton glassing

A man who had previously punched a man at a nightclub and broke his teeth has an extensive criminal record for violence against multiple partners prior to glassing one outside a Rockhampton pub.

Zachary Wayne Thomas Weldon, 39, has been charged with one count of grievous bodily harm. He is accused of smashing a schooner glass into his former partner's face at the Oxford Hotel in Rockhampton CBD.

A man who had previously punched a man at a nightclub and broke his teeth has an extensive criminal record for violence against multiple partners prior to glassing one outside a Rockhampton pub.

Zachary Wayne Thomas Weldon, 39, was sentenced to 4.5 years prison on August 28 after pleading guilty to one count of grievous bodily harm in relation to the glassing assault.

Judge Jeff Clarke described the glassing as “gratuitous extreme weaponised violence on a defenceless, smaller female”.

He said Weldon and the victim rented a motel room in Rockhampton prior to the glassing.

Judge Clarke said Weldon claimed there was provocation and the victim had sent him abusive messages in the days prior.

“Whatever provocative behaviour she may have engaged in and for whatever reason, it was a gross over-reaction to attack her in the cowardly way Weldon did,” Judge Clarke said.

The pair had been drinking at the Oxford Hotel in East St, Rockhampton, with the victim for many hours before to the glassing on October 21, 2022.

Zachary Wayne Thomas Weldon.

Crown prosecutor Ryan Godfrey told Rockhampton District Court the pair listened to music and discussed their 18-month long relationship which had ended six months prior.

He said the conversation between the pair escalated to a verbal argument and then the woman punched Weldon in the face.

Mr Godfrey said they continued to argue and the woman fell off her chair, landing on the ground and when she got back up, she punched Weldon again.

“The victim then walked away from the defendant, around the other side of the table with the intention of leaving the licensed premises,” he said.

This was when Weldon struck the victim with the glass.

She fell backwards into a high table first, and then hitting a chair as she fell to the ground, losing consciousness.

Patrons and staff could be seen rushing to her aid while two males reacted with intention to restrain Weldon, with one prepared to tackle him, but he stood back didn’t try to flee.

“She lost a significant quantity of blood,” Mr Godfrey said.

The woman sustained two lacerations to the left side of her face, 4.5cm long and 5mm wide, with surgery required to wash and close the wounds and a doctor commented the injuries would cause her serious disfigurement.

The woman, who now has a daily reminder of the assault from her scars, also lost a tooth which has cost her $3,236.40 in dental work.

“Your extensive criminal history goes against you,” Judge Clarke said.

“You’ve been previously convicted of an array of offences, including public disorder offending, drug offending, property crime, offences of dishonesty, sexual offending against a child, non compliance with bail.”

He said Weldon had breached probation and suspended sentences and was on a suspended sentence for similar offending against the same victim at the time of this offence, handed to him in the Blackwater Magistrates Court eight days before this offence.

“This is by far the worst,” Judge Clarke said.

He said Weldon once assaulted a man at a nightclub after the man spoke to him about approaching a woman he (the victim) had been dancing with.

Judge Clarke said Weldon initially walked off but returned and “knocked his teeth out”.

He said Weldon had carried out violence against multiple previous partners, including psychological abuse.

“It bears out your obvious disinterest in treating vulnerable people with whom you’re in a relationship with the respect and dignity that they deserve,” Judge Clarke said.

“Instead, demonstrating your need to control, dominate, coerce, demean, bash and threaten.”

He declared 296 days presentence custody as time already served on the 4.5 year prison term and set parole eligibility for June 1, 2024.

Originally published as Zachary Wayne Thomas Weldon sentenced for Rockhampton glassing