Toowoomba man Jack Whiting, 31, sentenced for choking girlfriend

A third woman has come forward with abuse allegations against a Darling Downs man after he viciously choked and bit her in a petty argument.

Jack Whiting, 31, appeared in Toowoomba District Court for strangling and assaulting his then-girlfriend. Picture: Facebook/ File.

A Toowoomba man strangled his partner almost to the point of passing out when she refused to hand over her laptop.

Jack Whiting, 31, pleaded guilty in Toowoomba District Court last week to viciously attacking his girlfriend at the time, the third woman to have filed a domestic violence order against him.

Crown prosecutor Abby Kong told the court the then 29-year-old Whiting was banned from the woman’s home following a recent police protection notice but had returned with her permission, shortly after which the pair engaged in an argument.

“He became aggravated, he yelled in the complainant’s face,” Ms Kong said.

“He said ‘give me my f--king phone or I’ll smash your laptop.”

The pair struggled over the laptop before Whiting grabbed her throat, choking her.

“He spun her around and put her in a chokehold,” Ms Kong said.

“She was dizzy, frantic, she was unable to breathe, she made gasping sounds but was unable to speak.”

The woman, to get free, bit Whiting on the arm to which he bit her back, hard enough to leave a mark.

Whiting continued to choke the woman for about two minutes before she was able to escape to the bathroom.

“She said “get the f-- away from me, don’t touch me, you’re scaring me, I’m scared of you,” Ms Kong said.

Whiting then switched tones, profusely apologising to the victim and attempting to hug her.

Ms Kong said he had a “persistent” history with the courts and domestic violence.

“He’s come before the court relevantly for contraventions of domestic violence orders … they are all contraventions for orders that don’t relate to the current complainant,” she said.

“This would have been a terrifying experience for (the woman) … she was fearful for her life.”

In committing the attack, Whiting also breached an existing suspended sentence for unrelated offending in 2022.

Defence barrister Tristan Carlos instructed by Skuse Graham Lawyers said Whiting was “a man in need of supervision”.

“Unfortunately has experienced a great deal of trauma.

“His criminal history when it comes to offences involving violence is a dated one … more recent contraventions of protection orders appear to be contraventions of contact conditions.”

He said Whiting had struggled with meth addiction, but had recently engaged in rehabilitation programs.

“He is ambitious of making a fresh start,” he said.

“Methamphetamine is an insidious drug and there is no easy solution to addiction but he is desirous of change.”

Whiting was formally charged with strangulation in a domestic setting and assault occasioning bodily harm with both classified as domestic violence offences.

He was also charged with three counts of possessing a dangerous drug and one count each of stealing and possessing a knife in a public place.

He was sentenced to 2½ years imprisonment and granted immediate parole with 408 days of presentence custody declared as time served.

A five-year domestic violence order was also enacted on behalf of Whiting’s ex-partner.