Man threatened to “carve up” former partner after heated argument avoids jail time

A man who threatened to carve up his then-partner while waiving a chainsaw during a domestic argument could have been sent to prison, a magistrate has warned. David John Stitson’s on-again, off-again relationship with his ex escalated to dramatic new heights and a frightening low on May 26 last year, after his daughter accused the woman of hocking her jewellery at a local Cash Converters. That confrontation happened after the couple had already spent an afternoon drinking together, Rockingham Magistrates Court was told on Wednesday, June 14 as Stitson pleaded guilty to one count of being armed to cause fear. The court was told there were insults exchanged over the jewellery matter, which caused a heated argument between the couple before the woman eventually locked herself in a bedroom. She later attempted to flee the house by climbing a side fence and scaling the side roof, but when she dropped her phone, the noise gave away her elevated location. Police Prosecutor Sen. Const. Jessica Anderson said Stitson had then grabbed a battery operated chainsaw and turned it on and off, threatening her to come down. “Tell them c.... to go to bed cause I’m gonna carve their mother up,” he said. “Come down or I’m gonna cut you down, trust me this is what I do b....”. Stitson’s lawyer told the court that the couple’s relationship had become extremely “toxic” with multiple break-ups occurring throughout an 18-month period and that the woman’s drinking had been a contributing factor to the breakdown. Magistrate Linda Keane said for the woman to end up on a roof as part of her escape plan showed she would have been quite fearful for her safety. The fact that the domestic dispute unfolded in front of teenage daughters was also extremely concerning, she said. Ms Keane said despite Stitson, 49, having no prior record, his behaviour was “so serious that it warrants a term of imprisonment”. “People kill people when they are drunk and angry, this was a monstrous overreaction,” she said. “Sometimes people bring out the worst in each other, however, conduct that is as bad as this is unacceptable and we all need to take accountability for our actions at some point, Mr Stitson. “Let this be a lesson to you to deal with issues. Waving a chainsaw and threatening to carve up people is extraordinarily serious.” Stitson’s lawyer said his client had “completely moved on” from the relationship and that he was embarrassed and remorseful about his actions. He was handed a six-month and one-day jail term suspended for 12 months. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)