A south-west lawyer says a Balmoral district man, who punched holes in walls and assaulted his mother, was "the most remorseful person" she's ever dealt with.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Harley Strickland, 30, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Monday to intentionally damaging property and unlawful assault.
The court heard the man cares for his mother and they argued about the cleanliness of their home at the weekend.
He pulled a bedhead off the woman's bed and the frame collapsed.
The woman contacted police, who arrived, but she declined to make a statement.
Police found damage to five internal walls, the bed and the woman told them about a previous incident during which she was allegedly pushed to ground by her son.
The damage is expected to cost about $500 to repair.
The court heard at the time of the offending, Strickland was on bail for drug and driving-related offences.
On Monday, lawyer Amanda Hurst said Strickland was "the most remorseful person I've ever dealt with".
"He is extremely sorry that he's behaved like this," she said.
Ms Hurst said Strickland was the sole carer for his mother, who was diagnosed with cancer and suffered an acquired brain injury, depression, anxiety and diabetes.
"No one else has helped him look after his mother and he has been on their farming property, without a driver's licence and looking after her, since about 2014," she said.
"He has been under so much stress that he had a heart attack four weeks ago."
Strickland was convicted and fined $1200.
He remains on bail for the other matters and will appear in court again at a later date.
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.
