Mitchell Bryan Bodycote in Maroochydore court for choking, assault

A series of “horrific” outbursts has left a woman with a series of mental impacts after she was choked and assaulted by a Noosaville cafe worker. Read what happened.

A Noosaville cafe worker has faced court for choking a woman several times and pushing on her neck with his knee, causing significant mental health implications.

Mitchell Bryan Bodycote, now 39, was given two years’ prison in Maroochydore District Court that was suspended immediately after he already served five months in presentence custody.

The court heard Bodycote got into an argument with a 32-year-old woman at Sunrise Beach before he pushed her face and grabbed her throat with the same hand at 11pm on July 10, 2021.

Bodycote then grabbed her throat with both hands and pressed so hard that she was unable to breathe for a few seconds.

Crown prosecutor Madalyn Olivero said the victim was scared and upset, the court heard.

“She asked him to leave and he complied … she had a small bruise to her left arm and fingernail mark to her throat,” Ms Olivero said.

One week later on July 17, Bodycote and the 32-year-old woman went to a party at Cooroy near the defendant’s house.

Ms Olivero told the court the woman left the party early and went home as Bodycote was highly intoxicated.

Bodycote tried to call her several times and she answered one of those calls and told the then 38-year-old to “f--k off”.

When she arrived home Bodycote met her in the driveway and they argued inside the woman’s house.

Mitchell Bryan Bodycote, now 39, was given two years’ prison in Maroochydore District Court that was suspended immediately after he already served five months in presentence custody.

The woman threw food at Bodycote and he chased her upstairs while swearing.

There was a physical struggle between the pair and the victim ended up on the floor.

Bodycote got on top of her, placed both hands around her throat and pressed hard so she couldn’t breathe for four seconds.

He let go and hugged her and said he was sorry.

Ms Olivero said the woman then kicked out at him and he choked her a second time before pushing his knee down on her throat.

She was unable to breathe for a few seconds before he stopped and left.

The woman was “hysterical and frantic”, the court heard.

Bodycote also left messages on her phone including, “I’m f-----g coming for you, watch out” and “think your throat is in danger, your f-----g life is in danger.”

The victim was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital with a hoarse voice and sore neck and throat.

Bodycote was remanded in custody and granted bail five months later on December 6, 2021.

In the woman’s victim impact statement she described the offending as “horrific” with ongoing mental side effects from which she is seeking assistance from a psychologist.

The woman said she wanted Bodycote to be held accountable for what he did.

Defence barrister Simon Lewis said his client had undergone significant rehabilitation since the offending including the Men Choosing Change Program and another health retreat.

Mr Lewis noted the incident was not as serious as other choking cases as the victim had not lost consciousness.

Mr Lewis said Bodycote worked at Vanilla Food in Noosaville and grew up in an abusive household.

The court heard he had no previous criminal history and several character references were presented to the court on Bodycote’s behalf.

Acting Judge Katarina Prskalo said the extensive rehabilitation Bodycote had already undergone called for a suspended sentence to be imposed.

Bodycote pleaded guilty to four counts of choking, one count of common assault and one count of threatening violence.

Originally published as Mitchell Bryan Bodycote in Maroochydore court for choking, assault