By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A Narre Warren South man – described as a “serious violent offender” – has been jailed for up to 18 months after pleading guilty to persistently breaching a full intervention order against his ex-partner and her mother.
Despite a ban on all contact, the 30-year-old sent 244 emails and electronic messages to his former partner between February and April, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court heard on 1 May.
On 8 and 9 April, he sent 118 messages with some laced with threats to kill the ex-partner, her new partner and her mother.
He was arrested in Narre Warren South on 10 April. Having recently moved to Queensland, he told police he returned south to collect his things.
The man, with a history of ice and cannabis use, has since been remanded in custody.
The court heard the partner was fearful of giving a formal statement to police until the man was taken into custody.
In a police interview, the man said he had been “ranting and raving” and “just letting off steam” but denied making threats to kill.
He said he’d wanted to be reunited with their young daughter.
The man’s offending also breached an 18-month community corrections order handed down in September.
The man’s lawyer conceded jail was the only available sentence, but was mitigated by the man’s diagnosed bipolar depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder.
“He describes his offending as a serious relapse,” the lawyer said.
The man had engaged well with Queensland mental health services and enrolled in a men’s behaviour change course, the lawyer said.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen rejected the lawyer’s argument that the mass of messages was partly due to the accused replying to the victim.
Mr Vandersteen said that victims often try to “placate” violent aggressors, noting she was responding to his disapproval of her new relationship and to his requests to see their daughter.
It was “fair enough” that she messaged the man to clearly state he wouldn’t have access to their daughter without Department of Human Services or Victoria Police supervision, Mr Vandersteen said.
“Look at the language that he’s using,” he said – which he described as “terse” and “very confronting”.
“It was overtly threatening towards them because you weren’t getting your way.”
Mr Vandersteen noted the “very complex offender” had re-offended while on two separate corrections orders for the same type of offences.
“There comes a point that a line has to be drawn in the sand.
“He does stand here today as a serious violent offender.”
The man was jailed for 18 months, including a longer-than-usual parole period of up to 12 months to address his “issues”.
