R v Thomas [2021] NSWDC 839

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Thomas [2021] NSWDC 839 Hearing dates: 12 November 2021 Date of orders: 12 November 2021 Decision date: 12 November 2021 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Haesler SC DCJ Decision: Aggregate sentence of 4 years 6 month with a non-parole period of 2 year 6 months. Catchwords: CRIME – Take/detain person with intent to obtain advantage cause actual bodily harm (DV); Intentionally choke etc person with recklessness (DV) - Contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (Domestic) - Armed with intent to commit indictable offence - Take/detain person with intent to obtain advantage SENTENCING - Relevant factors on sentence -serious domestic violence offences – breach of apprehended domestic violence orders - early guilty plea - Form 1 matter – deprived background- efficacy of harsh punishments - women should not bear the burden - time for men to step up – offender will need significant assistance- Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 Cases Cited: Bugmy v The Queen (2013) 249 CLR 571; [2013] HCA 37 Hoskins v R [2021] NSWCCA 169 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357 Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610 R v Burton [2008] NSWCCA 128 R v Fernando (1992) 76 A Crim R 58 R v Simpson [2001] NSWCCA 534; 53 NSWLR 704 Suksa-Ngacharoen v R [2018] NSWCCA 142 [132] Texts Cited: Parole Supervision and Re-offending: Wai-Yin Wan, Suzanne Poynton, Gerard van Doorn and Don Weatherburn (2016) Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology v149. No.4. p 497, 2011, BOCSAR Category: Sentence Parties: Stephen Thomas (the offender) Director of Public Prosecutions Representation: Solicitors: Ms E Parkes, Legal Aid NSW (for the offender) Ms A Kerr (for Director of Public Prosecutions) File Number(s): 2021/000011257