By JOLENE OGLE
NOOSA Magistrate Simon Young has labelled a man’s attack on his ex-partner as a “serious act of domestic violence”.
Obi Obi man, Michael Peter Evans, pleaded guilty in Noosa Magistrates Court on Tuesday to attacking his former partner of 12 years in June 2013 when he returned their three children, now five, nine and 11 years, from a weekly visitation.
Evans, 33, pleaded guilty to putting the victim into a headlock and trying to choke her, after she tried to push him out the front door of the family home, before pushing the victim in the face and causing her teeth to puncture her lip.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Shane Raison said the victim waited until February 2014 before reporting the incident and her injuries – which she had photographed using her phone at the time of the assault – because she was afraid of retribution.
The victim told police Evans had previously slapped the back of her head and the incident in June 2013 was the first time Evans had physically assaulted her face, Sgt Raison said.
Following the assault, the victim sent an image of her injuries to Evans with the text message, “Look what you’ve done. Are you happy?” to which Evans replied, “I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”
Magistrate Simon Young said domestic violence won’t be tolerated in the community and labelled Evans’ attack as a “serious act of domestic violence”.
“If this is to be the generation that says no to domestic violence then you need to get on board or accept that at some point you will go to jail.” he said.
When sentencing, Magistrate Young said he accepted the incident as isolated with no other evidence put to the court to suggest other incidents had occurred in the 14 months since the assault.
Evans was sentenced to 18 months probation and a conviction was recorded.
