Stratham man accused of beating 11-year-old daughter, then apologising to dog groomer witness

A Stratham man accused of beating his 11-year-old daughter in front of a dog groomer — before allegedly apologising to them for witnessing the incident — has been refused bail. The 39-year-old is also accused of brandishing a knife against his then-partner and appeared from custody in Bunbury Magistrates Court on Thursday. He is facing one count of aggravated unlawful assault, one charge of aggravated common assault in circumstances of aggravation and one count of being armed to cause fear. The court was told on March 4, the man allegedly physically assaulted his 11-year-old daughter after she complained about taking the bins out. He allegedly took her electronic devices off her as a punishment, including her phone, and is accused of throwing her against a wall before chasing her out of the house, where she was allegedly slapped across the face and kicked several times. He then allegedly chased her back inside her bedroom after she tried to retrieve her phone to call the police, where he allegedly slapped her 10 times with a wooden spoon. That same day, he also allegedly tackled her, picked her up by her shirt and pinned her to a garage wall in front of a dog groomer who was at the address tending to their dog. Police prosecutor Sen. Const. Tim Concannon said he apologised for his behaviour to the dog groomer, but the groomer called the police. The girl was then taken to hospital where she received treatment for bruising and minor swelling. On the same day, the man is also accused of brandishing a knife against his then-partner — the mother of the girl. He allegedly kept the knife as well as other smaller blade-parts on him at all times. The man’s lawyer argued he should be granted bail because he has “strenuously denied” the allegations, does not have a violent criminal history and currently resides a considerable distance away from the complainants. Sen. Const. Tim Concannon strongly opposed the man’s release citing previous convictions of breaching family violence restraining orders, as well as previous charges. Magistrate Joanne Andretich agreed with the prosecution, and did not hesitate to let the man know the severity of his alleged offending. “The State has demonstrated an extremely strong case. I am concerned based on your record that you may commit another offence or interfere with witnesses,” she said. “You are looking at an immediate term of imprisonment if you plead or are found guilty.” The man was not required to enter a plea and will remain in custody until his next court appearance on June 17.