By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Twice-jailed for family violence, a Doveton man has denied stalking the same victim days after being released from prison.
During a failed bail application, the 29-year-old argued in court he had been manipulated when photographed by his ex-partner in a Springvale car park in May.
He faces charges including stalking, persistently breaching an intervention order and unlawful assault.
He had been on two community corrections orders at the time.
The man also denied approaching the woman outside her house in breach of an intervention order, asking for forgiveness and for her not to tell police, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court heard,
She claimed he then followed her in his car and harassed her as she walked by foot to Springvale railway station.
As she sat in a male friend’s car in a car park, the accused allegedly tried to open the locked car doors and then struck on the car windows with his hands.
The victim took photos of him next to the car – with confirmation of the geographic location, police informant Acting Sergeant Craig Milne told police.
The accused told police the victim’s friend had got out of the car at a McDonald’s outlet and punched the accused several times to the head.
“They’re making up stories to get me,” he allegedly told police.
That night, he allegedly returned to the victim’s home.
“The victim is concerned for her welfare and would be concerned if he would be granted bail,” Acting Sgt Milne said.
The man had been previously jailed for seven days for breaching an intervention order in November, phoning the victim up to 130 times a day, haranguing her for money and visiting her at work.
During an encounter in November, he refused to leave her car. When she tried to drive to a police station, he grabbed the steering wheel and caused the car to swerve into nearby traffic lanes.
On 3 May, he was again jailed for a week for a further breach.
Three days after being released from jail, he allegedly committed his most recent offences.
Defence barrister Roona Nida said the man had never been in trouble with the law prior to November, and had been locked in remand since his arrest on 18 May.
“The problems started as a result of having a relationship with the alleged victim.”
She said that the man had been confused about the intervention orders. As an Afghani, the man had “moved on” now that he knew the relationship was over.
Referring to a psychologist’s report, magistrate Jack Vandersteen retorted: “He sees himself as the victim, doesn’t he?
“He feels that these allegations are a complete nonsense.”
Mr Vandersteen said the risk to the complainant increases substantially with physical breaches of intervention orders.
“The difficulty is this: I can’t think of any (bail) conditions to reduce the risk of re-offending.”
If found guilty, the man’s sentence could well exceed his four months in remand due to breaching two community corrections order, he said.
“On the face of it, the prosecution case appears strong given that photo.
“It’s the same victim, his third breach of an intervention order … He’ll be facing a substantial term of imprisonment.”
The man will appear at a contest hearing at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 18 October.
