A WARRNAMBOOL man who spat in the face of his partner and stalked her has been placed on a community corrections order.
Adam Troy Street, 37, of Tarhook Road, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court to stalking, causing criminal damage, unlawful assault, failing to answer bail and two counts of making threats to inflict serious injury.
Magistrate Ron Saines said people who engaged in violence or threatening behaviour while in relationships had to realise they would be punished in courts.
He said Street had prior court appearances, although he noted those offences had generally not involved violence.
However, Mr Saines told Street that if he engaged in similar domestic violence again he could expect an immediate jail term.
Police said that on May 7 Street was with his partner at her home when at 4am he came into her bedroom yelling.
She was so frightened she curled into a ball, but he dragged her towards him and spat in her face.
Street threatened to put an axe through the woman’s head and promised to make her life hell.
He also called her at work and threatened to cave her head in.
On May 12 Street entered the woman’s home and used a screwdriver to damage a table and chair they jointly owned. Street then followed her in his car.
Frightened he would carry out his threats, she went to the Warrnambool police station for help.
Street parked outside the police station, where he was detained by police officers. An intervention order was then put in place on May 15.
When interviewed Street told police officers he made the threats to scare the woman and because it was easy and effective.
Street also failed to answer bail on May 15.
The court was told the couple had since reconciled and the intervention order had been relaxed to allow contact.
