Defiant dad banned from home

Accompanied by two court orderlies, Michael Thomas Hargreaves faced Bunbury Magistrate’s Court on Thursday after being taken into custody earlier in the week for breaching a police order. The court was told the Bunbury man was given a 24-hour police order after neighbours of a property on Greensell Street reported a domestic disturbance. “On September 23 at about 9pm police were called to an address in Bunbury after neighbours reported a domestic disturbance,” Police prosecutor Sergeant Greg Ward said. “The accused was given a 24-hour police order to not contact the victim and asked to leave the address several times. “Refusing to leave the property, he stood out on the street yelling and said ‘f..ker arrest me’. “He has been given several police orders which he has ignored, he does what he wants when he wants and based on his record I would oppose bail.” Mr Hargreaves’ lawyer, Twistie Venning, argued his client believed he followed police orders. “He knew he was being asked by the police to leave and he believed he did so and we will be seeking video footage to prove that,” Mr Venning said. “Him and his partner have been together for 10 years but have an on-and-off relationship and due to that relationship he hasn’t been able to hold work. He also has a 17-year-old child to another woman and the two co-parent that child well and my client hoped to have that same co-parent relationship with this other woman.” When deciding whether to grant bail, Magistrate Janelle Scutt took into consideration the six-year-old child and the fact Hargreaves had no permanent address. “Your record is fairly limited but unimpressive,” she said. “It is clear that you have an attitude of defiance, this is your third allegation of breaching a police order. “You are not to enter the address unless it is to pick up your personal property in which case you will go with police and you will report to the Bunbury Police Station every Tuesday and Thursday.” Mr Hargreaves will next appear in court on October 22.