Persistent domestic violent perpetrator who bashed mum in front of their child jailed for more than two years

A persistent domestic violence offender who bashed a mother in front of their three-year-old son has been jailed for more than two years. The offender had been in an on-and-off relationship with the victim for several years, was unemployed and drank a full bottle of spirits in the mornings when he unleashed his three-month campaign of terror. The 27-year-old often also downed half a carton of beer and only stopped drinking when he passed out or there was no booze left. He had also been using meth. After an argument where he accused her of cheating and looked for evidence on her phone, he scrawled “dog” and “slut” on her bathroom wall. Then, on a camping trip with their boy, another argument erupted about fidelity and he shoved the woman so hard she fell and landed on her wrist, breaking it in two places. She needed surgery to reposition her thumb, with a plate and bolts inserted, and would likely have been left with a permanent injury without it, the District Court of WA was told. On another occasion, as the pair argued while he drove, he hit her in the face with his hand, saying “I should do that more often because you’re not talking now” as the child and woman sobbed. During another violent incident in her home, he smashed up appliances, furniture and fixtures with an axe after shouting “If you want a reaction, I will give you a reaction”. He also slapped her across the face and when a neighbouring relative saw the offender standing over her and pushing her on the porch, he called police. The court was told the victim had been isolated from others due to the offender’s coercive control and it had been hard to leave the relationship due to their shared parenting. As she tried to recover from the abuse, the violence was “replaying in her head over and over”. “I never dreamt I’d be in an abusive relationship,” she said in her victim impact statement. “It is now my living nightmare.” The offender, whose victim-blaming had “lessened while in custody”, was given credit for writing a letter of remorse and pleading guilty rather than trying his “luck at trial” to see if the victim held her nerve. He was jailed for 28 months, made eligible for parole and slapped with a lifetime violence restraining order. “Domestic violence will not be tolerated by this court or the community,” Judge Wendy Hughes said. The court was told the offender’s strongest memories of his parents when he was a small child was his father choking his mother and “throwing her around”. If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Crisis Care Helpline on 1800 199 008.