‘Blight on our community’: Magistrate condemns Ocean Grove man Nathan Cooper’s family violence

An Ocean Grove man has avoided a conviction for a “serious” assault against a woman in her home.

An Ocean Grove man told an ex-girlfriend he would “make her life a living hell” before grabbing her around the neck and pushing her.

Nathan Cooper, 39, pleaded guilty to unlawful assault and property damage at the Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday.

The court heard Cooper pushed his ex-partner against a wall in August and placed his forearm against her neck when a verbal argument about him wanting to leave the relationship became violent.

While the woman was pinned against the wall, Cooper said “if you make this hard, I will make your life a living hell”.

The woman was able to break free but Cooper grabbed her around the neck area and the top of both her arms, causing bruising.

At one point during the argument, Cooper stood in front of the victim as she was trying to get away and then pushed her. This made the woman fall back and hit her head against furniture.

Cooper left the house briefly before he returned and smashed a glass in the sink.

During an interview with police, Cooper alleged the woman had “poured red wine and was giving him the cold shower” prior to the assault and claimed she fell because she was “drunk”.

His lawyer, Patrick Byrne, said Cooper has no prior criminal history and was “fully cooperative” with the police.

“It’s clear that it is a serious example of family violence and he is completely ashamed to be before Your Honour,” Mr Byrne said.

“There was certainly agitation on both parts. By no means does that go to excuse this offending …(but it does) put some context on what was happening on this evening.”

Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt said he took into account “community expectations” when sentencing Cooper.

“Most people in the community now understand the true seriousness of family violence. It’s become a blight in our community and there’s a general sense of bereavement when it’s committed,” he said.

“People are appropriately offended when they hear of the details.”

Cooper was fined $3000 without conviction.

Originally published as ‘Blight on our community’: Magistrate condemns Ocean Grove man Nathan Cooper’s family violence