John William Price jailed for assault on pregnant step-daughter and threatening ex-partner with an axe

A Wagin man who physically assaulted his pregnant step-daughter by kneeing her in the uterus and threatened his former partner with an axe before resisting arrest, has been jailed. John William Price faced Narrogin Magistrates Court on September 30 where he pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour in public and obstructing a public officer. The 47-year-old was convicted of being armed in a way that may cause fear in a prior appearance on June 10. The court was told Price was carrying an axe as he approached a vehicle idling in the driveway of his Wagin home on the evening of May 19, 2025. The vehicle was occupied by his former partner, their two children, and a man who left the vehicle and told Price they were at the residence to collect items. Price ignored the man, opening the car door and raising the axe to his former partner before getting into a physical fight with the man in sight of public witnesses. Police were called to the scene and attempted to arrest Price who resisted, injuring an officer in the process. Price told police, “I just wanted to get away”. Defence lawyer Wendy Stewart said Price was under the influence of alcohol and had assumed his children would be staying with his former partner that night. She said he had felt excluded after being uninvited by family and friends from an event that night and was feeling lied to and betrayed. Ms Stewart said the man was allegedly known to carry weapons, which forced Price to feel like he had to arm himself for protection. Price later threw the axe over the fence. Ms Stewart said Price did not engage in the physical fight with the man, who instead is alleged to have punched Price five to six times in the head. Ms Stewart said her client was “ashamed of his actions” and had not had a drink since the offending, and he had started counselling. She said Price had put in a lot of work and is “thriving”, with his mental health the best it has been in 20 years. The May offending breached a suspended prison order — on which Price was resentenced for endangering the life, health and safety of a person, and assault, which occurred in 2023. On September 9, 2023, Price got into a verbal argument with his 21-year-old pregnant step-daughter while he was heavily intoxicated before grabbing her shoulders and kneeing her in the stomach. The victim suffered injury to her uterus and collapsed to the ground, vomiting and shaking until she was rushed to hospital by paramedics. Price then assaulted his step-daughter’s partner and pulled out a clump of his hair. Police prosecutor Sgt Natalie Parkyn said Price does not comply with community-based orders and “victim blames” instead of taking accountability for his actions. A pre-sentence report recommended a jail term. Magistrate Erin O’Donnell said the “content of the report was not particularly positive” and that Price had “no impulse control”. She said Price had a habit of intimidation and violating boundaries, a lack of control in self-regulating, and exhibits “frightening” behaviours. “You’ve found yourself in a pattern that has unfortunately become entrenched,” she said. “We need to place the blame where it lies, it has to be on you.” Price was jailed for 11 months and will be sentenced in Albany District Court on December 3 for one count of conspiracy to defeat justice. 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.