Bunbury man Michael Rickard jailed for glassing partner after night out

A Bunbury man has been jailed for a vicious glassing attack on his partner that left her ear slashed and profusely bleeding while waiting for a taxi. Michael Rickard appeared in Bunbury Magistrate’s Court on Thursday last week via videolink from Hakea Prison when he was sentenced to 12 months behind bars on an unlawful wounding charge. The court was told Rickard and his partner had been drinking at his sister’s Withers home during a barbecue on the night of February 27. The pair waited until the next morning to get a taxi home, but Rickard was too intoxicated to call for a ride himself. He then became verbally abusive towards his partner over the wait time for the taxi before glassing the right side of her head with a beer bottle, causing her to fall to the ground. The victim was bleeding profusely on the ground while Rickard stood over her and yelled, before other family members who were also waiting on the driveway intervened and called police. The court was told the serious attack left the victim with a 5cm deep cut on her right ear that required 13 stitches, as well as a further small wound that needed four stitches. In submissions, Rickard’s lawyer Michael Joubert told the court that although Rickard could not recall the incident due to his intoxication, he indicated in a pre-sentence report that he “needs help”, alluding to a potential undiagnosed mental illness. It was also submitted Rickard was not given parole during the last sentence he served behind bars after being convicted of an assault against another prisoner. When Mr Joubert suggested having the matter adjourned to obtain a psychiatric report, Magistrate Brionie Ayling said only a term of immediate imprisonment was appropriate. Police prosecutor Senior Constable Karl Rep said Rickard had engaged in a serious domestic violence assault involving a weapon and it was fortunate that the victim’s injuries were not more severe. Despite a submission from Rickard claiming his relationship was not marred by domestic violence, Ms Ayling said in sentencing that the serious assault had indeed damaged the relationship. Rickard’s term was backdated to February 28 and he will be eligible for parole in August.