John PJ Tobane Beattie sentenced in Toowoomba District court for beating, strangling and burning former partner

A man who strangled, beat and abused his then-girlfriend on multiple occasions has left her unable to work or leave home, a court has been told.

Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele

A man who strangled, beat and abused his then-girlfriend on multiple occasions has faced court, claiming alcohol and drug abuse were the root cause of his offending.

Toowoomba man John PJ Tobane Beattie, 30, pleaded guilty in Toowoomba District Court via videolink to two counts of strangulation in a domestic setting, one count of assault occasioning bodily harm while armed, one count of common assault and two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm after violently attacking his ex-partner over the course of their short relationship.

Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald told the court on August 26 that Beattie had violently assaulted his then-girlfriend on two occasions in 2022 in a fit of “jealousy and paranoia” after accusing her of cheating with other men.

“He screamed at her and squeezed her throat … and while still holding her throat and applying that pressure he headbutted her,” Ms Friedewald said of the first occasion.

He then continued verbally abusing the woman before threatening to burn her.

“He armed himself with a lighter at that time and flicked it repeatedly, heating it up, before pressing that lighter into her right thigh and holding it against her skin for approximately five seconds,” she said.

“It caused a welt to her leg and ultimately left a scar to that part of her body.”

The attack ceased when a family member intervened and rescued the woman after hearing her screams for help.

Beattie attacked the woman for the second time on a camping trip in December 2022, punching her in the leg and head repeatedly before strangling her and dragging her from his vehicle.

“When she tried to put her arms up to protect her face he pulled them down and continued punching her,” Ms Friedewald said.

“He then strangled her, squeezing his fingers around her windpipe as she gasped for breath, she thought she was going to lose consciousness at that time.”

In a victim impact statement handed up in court, the woman said that on top of her physical injuries, she had suffered severe mental and financial consequences following the attacks and was now unable to work as she was too afraid to leave home.

Beattie’s defence barrister David Funch said his client was a victim of alcohol and drug addiction at the time of the attacks which ultimately led to his offending.

“He’s made solid efforts of rehabilitation while he’s been in custody,” Mr Funch said.

“Breaking that cycle of addiction and drug abuse, changing the trajectory of his future.

“He’s very fortunate he enjoys the support of his family who love him very much, want what’s best for him and intend to support him upon his release.”

Judge Horneman-Wren SC conceded Beattie had already spent a considerable amount of time in custody, nearing 21 months and sentenced Beattie to three years imprisonment.

“You won’t see me again,” Beattie told the court upon the ruling.

He was granted immediate parole with 14 months of pre-sentence custody declared as time served.