Steve David Mannion faces court over restraining order breaches on ex-partner

A Dawesville man has pleaded guilty to 37 charges after breaching a restraining order protecting his ex-partner and making 322 calls and 1351 messages. Steve David Mannion, 32, appeared via video link before Rockingham Magistrates court last Wednesday, facing charges over restraining order breaches, common assault, criminal damage and trespassing. Prosecutor Jessica Anderson told the court that Mannion and the victim were previously in a 13-year relationship and share children together. The couple separated a year ago. On January 19, 2022, he was served a family violence restraining order. It was alleged that between January 21 and February 27, 2022, Mannion made 322 calls and sent 1351 messages to the victim. The context of these phone calls and messages were allegedly offensive, racially abusive and threatening towards the victim. In these messages, Mannion allegedly said to the victim, “you won’t hear from me again you filthy dog”. “You should have been de-sexed at birth.” And when the victim reported the numerous harassing phone calls and messages to the police, he told her to “go find a cop and fall in love you f****** c** rag”. It was alleged that on February 27, 2022, Mannion went to the victim’s home and started dressing the children, telling her that he was taking the children despite there being no pre-arrangements. The victim allegedly made a phone call to police and Mannion reached out across the victim’s neck area and grabbed her phone smashing it outside the her home. He was arrested and has been in custody since the incident. Mannion’s lawyer said that “this has been a serious and significant wake-up call for him”. “He has no desire to rekindle a romantic relationship with the victim, but does hope to repair his relationship with his children.” Senior Constable Anderson said that she believed the only reason the offending stopped was because the incident was reported to police. The matter was remanded to August 5 for sentencing. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)