A 23-year-old man has been fined $3000 for throwing a metal bar stool in the Brighton Hotel, that hit his girlfriend and knocked her unconscious.
Joel Steven Ovens pleaded guilty to one count of an act or omission causing bodily harm in the Mandurah Magistrates Court on Friday.
Police prosecutor Tamara Read told the court Ovens was at the Brighton Hotel with friends and his partner when the incident occurred about midnight on December 23, 2018.
Ovens was “in the process of being removed” from the premises after a confrontation inside.
He picked up a metal bar stool outside and attempted to throw it at a security member.
Instead, it struck his girlfriend, who was trying to calm him down, “in the head at close range”.
The victim lost unconscious for “three to four minutes”, had a number of teeth displaced and was transferred to Peel Health Campus for medical treatment.
Ovens’ lawyer Michelle Cox told the court her client was “not a drinker by normal sorts”.
“He works full time … he’s a contributing member of the community,” she said.
“He’s going places in life … he’s of good character, he’s a lovely young man.
“There’s no true explanation for this behaviour … something’s not quite right here.
“Nobody is more shocked than Mr Ovens.”
Ms Cox asked Mandurah Magistrate Anne Longden to consider a spent conviction for Ovens, to which Senior Constable Read agreed.
She also provided Ms Longden with a number of character references, including one from the victim’s father, who was in court to support Ovens.
Ms Longden said it was a very serious, “concerning” offence.
“The facts do you no favours … it’s disappointing to you and your family,” she said.
“You didn’t intend to hit your partner … remarkably, your partner remains supportive.”
Ms Longden considered Ovens’ young age and no prior criminal record and granted the spent conviction.
He was fined $3000 and ordered to pay $107.50 in costs.