Man sentenced to more than 10 years jail for horrific abuse of girlfriend over 48-hour period

“You subjected her to the most harrowing of experiences” is what a Supreme Court judge told a man being sentenced for abuse against his then-girlfriend. The details.

Burnie Supreme and Magisterial Courts

A 48-hour period in which a man subjected his then-girlfriend to numerous instances of abuse that a Supreme Court judge described as “cruel, demeaning and humiliating” has landed him in jail.

The man, who cannot be named as doing so would identify his victim, was sentenced to ten and half years jail for 14 counts of assault, five counts of rape, a count of strangulation, a count of attempted strangulation, two counts of committing an unlawful act intended to cause bodily harm, and one count of indecent assault.

He will not be eligible for parole until he has served half the sentence.

During sentencing at the Supreme Court in Burnie on Monday, Justice Tamara Jago described in detail the 48-hour period between June 12 and 13 where the woman was abused, tortured, raped, violently attacked and threatened with murder.

The woman ended up escaping the abuse after he drove her to his work, and she ran out of the car as he was doing his job.

Burnie Supreme and Magisterial Courts

She ran for a kilometre to a house where she received assistance from the owners.

The man eventually tracked her down, but the owners told him to leave their property.

He then drove away before the police were contacted.

“It is difficult to put into words how appalling your behaviour was towards her was for 48 hours,” Justice Jago said.

“You subjected her to the most harrowing of experiences. You not only caused her physical harm, but you treated her with disdain and indignity.”

Justice Jago said the crimes had a “devastating effect” on the woman.

“Throughout the ordeal, she was terrified she was going to die. She continues to experience constant nightmares and flashbacks of the events.

“She is sleep-deprived, constantly scared, hypervigilant, anxious, self-conscious and has become socially isolated.”

Justice Jago said her injuries from the abuse took a long time to heal and has been left with scarring all over her body.

“The impact of your crimes upon her has been profound and is likely to be long-term.”

Justice Jago said the man had exhibited controlling behaviours towards the woman such as taking the SIM card out of her phone.

“Your crimes did not occur in isolation but occurred within the context of a relationship that was marred by your controlling and intimidating conduct and your emotional and verbal abuse.

“You abused the trust inherent in any intimate relationship.”