Roma father fined after physical altercation with pregnant partner

A man has been fined after a physical altercation with his partner, who was 35 weeks pregnant at the time.

A Roma man has been fined after a series of emotionally and physically abusive acts against a pregnant woman, which contravened a domestic violence order.

The man pleaded guilty to contravening a domestic violence order in the Roma magistrate court on Tuesday.

The domestic violence order, which was put in place in November 2023, stipulated the man was not allowed to remain at, or enter his partner’s address without written permission.

The court heard the father subjected his pregnant partner to emotional and physical abuse while a domestic violence order was in place.

The court heard the abuse included verbal arguments, distressing and derogatory text messages and two physical altercations, one of which resulted in the woman’s finger being jammed in a door.

Police prosecutor Ellysha Geddes submitted on Monday November 20, that the man received a text from his partner, inviting him to her address.

Ms Geddes told the court between November 20 - 22, the pair had verbal arguments and exchanged a series of heated text messages.

On the evening of November 22, the father stayed at the address again, though his permission to be there had been revoked.

Defence solicitor, Leslee Reed, submitted that the man was under the impression he was welcome at the address on that night, but when police questioned him at work the next day, he was unable to produce written evidence.

Ms Geddes continued that on November 23, the man sent more abusive text messages to the woman, before the pair got into another argument that night, resulting in the woman’s finger being jammed into a door.

Ms Geddes submitted that the man’s behaviour was particularly troubling because of the protracted nature of the abuse and because his partner was 35 weeks pregnant at the time.

Acting magistrate Cooke described the man’s behaviour as “appalling.”

The man’s conviction was not recorded, but he was fined $1000 for his offending.

Domestic violence support is always available. Phone 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).

Originally published as Roma father fined after physical altercation with pregnant partner