Man locked up for abusing partner and smashing window

A MAN with a lengthy history of violence against women was only a few hours into a suspended jail sentence when he returned to his former partner’s home and abused her.

A MAN with a lengthy history of violence against women was only a few hours into a suspended jail sentence when he returned to his former partner’s home and abused her.

The Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard the man’s history included spitting on and punching his former partner in front of their child while she was pregnant.

Police prosecutor Shelby Larcombe said man received a two-month suspended jail sentence on September 19 for a domestic violence order breach but by 1.30pm he had returned to his former partner’s home.

The 28-year-old man entered through an unlocked door and was greeted by the aggrieved woman’s mother who sent him away.

Undeterred, the man returned the next day, demanding to see his child.

He became enraged when his former partner refused.

“He called her a ‘dog’ and ‘scum’ and started kicking a locked wooden door,” Ms Larcombe said.

This upset the man’s young child who was sitting nearby.

The man then smashed a window and left on foot.

Police located him a short distance from the home.

When called to stop, the man lined up to the officers and prepared to fight them.

As they moved to arrest the man, he pulled away, but pushed one officer over and punched another in the face.

The man was eventually detained and held in custody.

Acting for his defence, solicitor Patrick O’Donnell agreed that his client had a shocking history of violence and attributed it to drug addiction.

Mr O’Donnell told the court his client was raised in St George and had a good work history, on cotton and fruit farms in the area.

He asked the court for a lengthy community-based order so that his client could get professional help to overcome his drug habit.

In sentencing, Magistrate Kay Ryan said the man had exhausted his options.

“What is really concerning to me with this offending is that you have had 11 convictions for breaching domestic violence orders,” she said.

“And you have had sentences for violent incidents.”

The man pleaded guilty to two counts of breeching a domestic violence order, and one each of assaulting police, obstructing police, wilful damage and a drug offence.

Ms Ryan ordered a head sentenced of six months in jail.

She set the man’s parole eligibility date at today, after considering his 55 days in pre-sentence custody.