Chad Marsden McIntosh pleads guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm in Warwick District Court

A Warwick mechanic has been warned his children could have a ‘similar future’ to him if he continues his ways, after details of his ‘inappropriate’ assault on a woman in a car was aired in court. WARNING: DISTRESSING

Warwick police station and courthouse.

A Warwick mechanic has dodged jail time but has been delivered a stern warning by a judge as details of a “serious” assault in front of two children was revealed in court.

Chad Marsden McIntosh, 45, arrived at Warwick District Court sitting in prison greens, and entered his guilty plea on Monday morning.

On November 14, 2022, McIntosh engaged in a “verbal altercation” which quickly escalated into an assault, Crown prosecutor Arielle Spiteri told the court.

The court heard McIntosh, then 43, was in a car with a woman driving two young children to school.

“As they were driving to school, the complainant was driving dangerously in a built-up area, and the defendant backhanded her,” Ms Spiteri said.

“He hit her in the face with the back of his open hand, and his rings did make contact with her face, and she suffered a laceration to her mouth which immediately bled,” the Crown prosecutor said.

The woman then parked the car and called the police, while the children were crying in the car. Ms Spiteri noted the children were “very frightened” and had suffered lasting impacts that required counselling.

Ms Spiteri told the court McIntosh had a criminal history stretching back to 2004, including entries for weapons, drug offences, violence and breach of bail.

“The offending is serious, while it wasn’t protracted and was the infliction of a single blow, he did commit physical violence in front of two children,” Ms Spiteri said.

“While it’s accepted he assaulted her as a result of her dangerous driving, it was an inappropriate and excessive reaction to the circumstances.”

McIntosh pleaded guilty to one charge of assault occasioning bodily harm in Warwick District Court on April 29, 2024.

The court heard during his stint in custody, the mechanic had used his time productively and was “working and studying courses” while detained.

Judge Dennis Lynch KC was quick to warn the man there would be dire consequences if he did not change his ways.

“This might be only the second offence of violence on your history, but there are many convictions racking up on your history, if you even commit more drug offences you can expect to be locked up,” Judge Lynch said.

“If you’re genuine about being a decent parent, you can’t be one if you’re using drugs and going in and out of jail. If you want your kids to have a similar future, keep doing what you’ve been doing.

“I hope you’ve learned a valuable lesson on behalf of the community and you can be a decent parent.”

A total of 176 days in custody were declared as time served.

McIntosh was convicted and not further punished, with convictions recorded.

Originally published as Chad Marsden McIntosh pleads guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm in Warwick District Court