Jail term for Toowoomba man caught talking to his ‘ex’

The man had breached domestic violence orders 18 times in the past three years, the court heard.

The magistrate told the man his history of breaching orders went against him.

SIMPLY chatting with an estranged partner has left a Toowoomba man with a two-month jail sentence hanging over his head.

The 55-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had spent Tuesday night in the Toowoomba watch house after being arrested by police who found him at his East Toowoomba home on the lounge talking with his estranged partner.

Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard the domestic violence order between the couple prohibited the man from having any contact with the woman.

Police prosecutor Rowan Brewster-Webb told the court the man had breached domestic violence orders 18 times in the past three years.

Appearing by video link from the watch house, the man pleaded guilty to breaching a domestic violence protection order.

Duty solicitor Kyna Morice told the court the woman had wanted to get back together with her client and that she had contacted him on Tuesday.

Her client had had an issue with alcohol for some time which he needed to address.

“He has a job with his cousin if he can stay sober,” she said.

Ms Morice conceded her client had an “appalling” history of breaching domestic violence orders and he was aware of the situation in which he found himself.

Magistrate Kay Ryan noted there was no actual violence.

“What’s not in your favour is your history,” she told the defendant.

Ms Ryan sentenced the man to two months in jail but ordered the term be wholly suspended for six months.