Benjamin James Morel-du-Boil sentenced to 10 months in prison after “terrifying situation” with ex-partner

A Bunbury man has been jailed after punching the windscreen of his pregnant ex-partner’s car in a “terrifying” ordeal on Boxing Day last year. Benjamin James Morel-du-Boil appeared in Bunbury Magistrates Court via video link from Bunbury Regional Prison on Thursday, April 28, charged with three counts of breaching protective bail conditions, two counts of breaching a family violence restraining order and one count of criminal damage. Morel-du-Boil, 29, was at his home address on December 26 about 9.40 pm with his former partner who he was residing with when an argument began about their relationship and unborn child. The woman then began to leave, but police alleged he demanded she stayed and punched the roof of her Nissan Pulsar, causing a dent. Morel-du-Boil then got in the car and refused to get out, prompting his ex-partner to begin driving to the hospital. Police said the accused was still irate and punched the window of the car four to five times before his ex-partner told him to get out again, which he refused. The pair arrived at the hospital where the man’s ex-partner spoke with staff before police arrived and he was charged. Morel-du-Boil was released from prison under protective bail conditions on January 31, and on that same day allegedly sent 72 aggressive text messages and made six phone calls to his ex-partner, the last of which was answered by a police officer who was taking a statement from the victim. Magistrate Linda Keane said it was “deeply concerning” Morel-du-Boil had breached protective bail conditions almost immediately after being released. “Most concerning of all is that you were before me on January 31,” Magistrate Keane said. “It must have been of great concern to her because by the time you made that last call it was answered by a police officer.” The court was told Morel-du-Boil believed his wife was doing methylamphetamine while pregnant with his child and had been trying to stop her on the night of the incident. “I don’t know where the truth lies in terms of what you said about your concerns about her behaviour,” Ms Keane said. “But even if it is accurate, she is her own person and you don’t control what she does.” Morel-du-Boil was sentenced to a total of 10 months in prison, with five months suspended for 12 months.