Keynan James Nielsen handed more jail time after contacting assault victim 31 times

A Bunbury man already serving an jail term for threatening his girlfriend with a machete while locking her in his bedroom for more than an hour has been handed more prison time for repeatedly trying to contact her. Keynan James Nielsen, 23, appeared via video link from Hakea Prison in Bunbury Magistrates Court on Thursday, where he was sentenced for a string of charges including 31 counts of breaching protective bail conditions. Nielsen is currently serving a 16-month jail term for locking his then-girlfriend in his bedroom for more than an hour while violently threatening her in early 2022. The court was told he both physically and verbally threatened her, produced a machete which he threatened to use on both himself and the victim and grabbed a pillow while telling her “it’s jail time, baby”. While Nielsen was out on bail on other charges between August 15 and September 29, 2022, he tried calling and texting the victim 31 times. This was a breach of the protective bail conditions designed to protect the victim. During Nielsen’s District Court sentencing last Tuesday, the State Prosecutor used these charges as an indicator to the District Court judge that Nielsen’s release from jail should not be considered as he had an extensive track record of breaching bail terms. Nielsen was given a further three months imprisonment for breaching the conditions, which he will serve concurrently with his 16-month sentence. He was also sentenced to one charge of having no authority to drive, and another of driving with a prescribed illicit drug in his system. He was fined $1000 plus court costs of $264 for the two driving offences and his licence was disqualified for nine months. Nielsen will be eligible for parole early next year.