Eighteen-year-old man avoids jail following serious domestic violence assault on ex-partner

A teenager from Perth’s southern suburbs has avoided jail despite police calling for him to be locked up over the serious assault of his former partner. The 18-year-old, who cannot be named because he was underage at the time of the offences, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and common assault in Rockingham Children’s Court on August 16. The then 17-year-old was previously in a relationship with the victim and they had been living together at the time of the incident. Police prosecutor Sgt Brian Sutherland told the court that on October 2, 2022, an argument between the pair turned violent, with the offender throwing the victim’s belongings at her. He then pulled her backwards, put his hands on her neck and choked her. The court was told the girl struggled to breathe for several seconds as the offender continued to tighten his grip on her neck, before eventually letting go. He then followed her to the kitchen, where he picked up a bread knife and put it on the counter while yelling at his partner. Sgt Sutherland said the victim had visible red marks on her neck following the incident. He said the teen returned to the home a few days later to retrieve his belongings and the victim opened the door but refused to let him inside. The offender went to the back of the house and entered via a side door but was told to leave by the victim. She called police, who then attended and arrested the teen and found the main door had been significantly damaged. Legal aid lawyer Deborah Donovan said the former couple had been together for 18 months and described the relationship as “extremely volatile” with lots of “ups and downs”. “He says he started throwing things at her because he wanted her to leave him alone so that the arguing would stop,” Ms Donovan said. “On the second occasion, he wanted to meet with her to retrieve certain things but accepts that he acted poorly.” Sgt Sutherland pushed for the man to be jailed, pointing to the “epidemic” of domestic violence in WA and Australia and he said picking up the knife was “serious in itself”. “This is a very serious assault, when strangling her he tightened his grip around her throat and neck as she struggled to breathe ... there is a need for specific and general deterrence,” he said. “Someone can lose their life over lack of air and a general message that assaults on a partner will not be tolerated in the community needs to be sent.” Magistrate Catherine Crawford said the incident was “entirely unacceptable” and agreed strangulation was “particularly serious”. “It is inconceivable that you would treat or cause someone who would expect you to love and care for them in the manner that you did,” she said. “This cannot be repeated and it is entirely unacceptable to behave like that towards another human being. “Domestic violence is an epidemic and we need to ensure that the entire community understands. It has to stop.” Ms Crawford imposed a six-month jail term suspended for seven months with supervision and program requirements. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800