Western Cape man whipped partner 20 times with tyre tube in front of kids

A man who exposed his young children to “extreme domestic violence” when he whipped his partner more than 20 times with a tyre inner tube tyre, and threatened her with two knives, was on probation at the time.

A Western Cape York man has pleaded guilty to seven charges over an “extreme and prolonged” attack against his partner using knives, fists, elbow and a tyre inner tube, committed in front of his young children, who became frightened and hid.

A Western Cape York man who committed “extreme domestic violence” in front of his two young children – whipping his partner more than 20 times with a tyre inner tube, and threatening to cut her throat with two knives – was on a domestic violence order and suspended sentence at the time.

The man in his early 40s, who cannot be named to protect the anonymity of his children, pleaded guilty in Cairns District Court to seven charges of strangulation, assault occasioning bodily harm while armed, common assault, threats and breaching a domestic violence order committed early one morning in July 2024.

The court was told the man had a long history of violence against his partners, having kicked one woman “viciously” with steel-capped boots, and assaulted the mother of his children before, stabbing her with a USB stick, and beating her with a fence paling.

man had a long history of violence against his partners, having kicked one woman “viciously” with steel-capped boots, and assaulted the mother of his children before, stabbing her with a USB stick, and beating her with a fence paling. FILE PHOTO

He was on a suspended jail sentence for the fence paling attack when he was arrested in July last year, and has been in prison since then on remand.

During the most recent attack the man threatened his partner with knives, and choked her by applying force to her throat with his elbow, and his children “were so frightened, they hid”. the court was told.

They were then “left to help their mother out of the bathroom” after he locked the four of them in there together, whipped the children’s mother with the tyre tube and punched her to the face at last six times.

The man has been sentenced to four years imprisonment for an extreme and prolonged attack on his partner, but will be eligible for parole from November 17, because he has already served 499 days in prison on remand.

Judge Vicki Loury sentenced him to four years imprisonment, and said he would be eligible to apply for parole from November 17, as he had served 499 days in custody.

“I’m told your relationship was in the process of breaking down when this happened … you were intoxicated …

“Without warning, you punched (your partner) in the mouth, you put your elbow on her neck and pushed down so hard, she felt she was going to pass out,” Judge Loury said.

“You followed her, armed with two knives threatened to cut her throat … You forced her to cut up clothes she had obtained.”

“This was a prolonged and extreme attack on the complainant while you were armed with a multitude of weapons in front of young children – and committed while you were subject to a domestic violence order, and suspended sentence.”

The court was told the man had done a “violence in the home” course while in prison.

He said he wanted to “teach (his children) his traditions” when he was released from prison which Judge Loury noted was important to ensure “your culture lives on”.

Originally published as Western Cape man whipped partner 20 times with tyre tube in front of kids