Attorney-General to review sentence of publican Phillip de Angelis

The NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman today announced he would review a decision to reduce the sentence of millionaire publican Phillip de Angelis for violent attacks on his former partner Nellie Tilley.

• Angelis escapes jail and home detention after appeal
• Phillip de Angelis jailed in luxury beachfront unit

The NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman today on Monday he would review a decision to reduce the sentence of millionaire publican Phillip de Angelis for violently assaulting his ex.

De Angelis had his sentence reduced to one day’s weekend community service rather than 18 months of wearing an ankle bracelet and home detention.

The 38-year-old had pleaded guilty to five counts of domestic abuse and reckless wounding inflicted on his former partner Nellie Tilley and violently assaulted her on two occasions.

Phillip de Angelis pleaded guilty to five counts of domestic abuse and reckless wounding inflicted on his former partner.

“Under reforms implemented by the NSW Government in late 2017, there is a presumption that courts sentence domestic violence offenders to imprisonment or a supervised community-based sentence, Mr Speakman said on Monday.

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“I have sought further details on this matter and have requested the transcripts of the Local Court sentence and District Court appeal which I will review.’’

This morning the publican appeared carefree as he stepped out of his multimillion-dollar apartment at Bondi after Judge Sharon Norton slashed his original sentence last Friday, throwing out conditions imposed on him when he won an appeal in the district court.

Nellie Tilley said she had been scarred for life.

De Angelis comes from one of Sydney’s wealthiest families and is the nephew of pub baron Arthur Laundy and cousin of Bachelor star Stuart Laundy. He now has two years to fulfil 750 hours of community services.

Victims groups are outraged at the watering down of his sentence by Judge Norton saying it sends out a shocking message to the victims of domestic violence.

“Weekend detention for attacking and assaulting a partner, male or female is not a deterrent,’’ said Howard Brown of the Victims of Crime support group.

De Angelis was sentenced to home detention at his luxury Bondi apartment.

“It’s also slap in the face for to those that have the bravery to come forward,” he said.

In December last year Magistrate Philip Stewart said ‘nothing other than jail’ was appropriate but later sentenced de Angelis to 18 months home detention and drug monitoring by Corrective Services. He also said the offender showed no remorse and had partially attempted to shift some of the blame onto the victim, Ms Tilley, 53.

In an victim impact statement Ms Tilley, of Bellevue Hill, said she had been scarred for life after he threw a lighter at her hitting her in the head. She was forced to remove the makeup and show the scar to Magistrate Stewart.

The court heard she was subjected to a campaign of domestic abuse during their 14-month relationship and continued for 12 months after they separated.

Phillip de Angelis. Picture: John Grainger

Nellie Tilley.

The earlier court appearances said he also had prior convictions for possession and after being charged checked himself into an exclusive rehabilitation clinic called the Cabin in Thailand.

But Judge Norton said home detention “does not assist him to obtain the treatment he needs” for rehabilitation. She accepted an alternative suggested by his lawyer Mr Philip Boulton, Sc, where the de Angelis family doctor would monitor him and report to Corrective Services if he tested positive for drugs.

In April of 2017 de Angelis was charged with 29 domestic violence related offences including breaking and entering, destroying damage and “intentionally choke etc person with recklessness”.

De Angelis eventually agreed to plead guilty to five charges of assault and reckless wounding.

“Often victims have to trade away charges so that they can reduce the trauma of a lengthy and protracted court case,’’ Mr Brown said.

“It’s a double discount for the guilty,’’ he said.

Originally published as Attorney-General to review sentence of publican Phillip de Angelis