A DERRINALLUM man alleged to have used duct tape and heavy tow chains to restrain his partner will face a committal hearing next month.
Adam Stonehouse, 27, now of Russell Street, Northcote, appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates Court this week at a committal mention.
Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt this week set down the committal to be heard on November 22 with four civilian witness and one police witness expected to give evidence.
Mr Stonehouse’s bail was extended until the next court date.
He was released on bail in mid-May this year after the alleged victim said she wanted to resume a relationship with Mr Stonehouse. Bail conditions included he provide a $10,000 surety, not contact witnesses, not attend within 50 kilometres of Derrinallum and report to police three times a week.
Mr Stonehouse is charged with aggravated burglary, false imprisonment, burglary, theft, assault with a weapon, driving while disqualified and two counts of intentionally causing injury and making threats to kill.
Detective Senior Constable Gary Greene previously told the court that while being held in remand Mr Stonehouse had tried to contact the woman 88 times, despite there being an intervention order in place since his arrest and she had visited him in custody four times.
He told the court Mr Stonehouse and the woman were earlier this year in a relationship and living in a bus at Derrinallum. The couple went to a birthday party in late February and about midnight the woman left to return home, with Mr Stonehouse following soon after.
They argued and Mr Stonehouse is alleged to have punched the woman to the face and knocked her out, then put duct tape around the woman’s mouth and a heavy-duty tow chain around her ankles to restrain her before returning to the party. The woman regained consciousness and was able to free herself, grab her laptop computer and flee, returning to the party before she and the other partygoers fled to the safety of another property.
After finding her gone, Mr Stonehouse is alleged to have returned to the party house, kicked in the front door and searched handbags for clues to where the group had gone, allegedly stealing credit cards and cigarettes.
Police claim Mr Stonehouse then went to another property in search of his partner, armed himself with a stick and kicked in a door before assaulting a man. He also is alleged to have threatened the man and his wife before grabbing his partner and taking her back to the bus.
Police previously alleged Mr Stonehouse told them he and his partner used the tow chains and duct tape to enhance their sexual experiences.