October 24, 2013
A 34-year-old Cherbourg man with an “appalling” record of domestic violence was sentenced to 12 months jail when he appeared in Kingaroy Magistrates Court today.
Steven Kerry Langton, 34, pleaded guilty via videolink to breaching a domestic violence order on September 22 at Cherbourg.
Police Prosecutor Sgt Wayne Bushell said Langton had knocked his partner to the ground and then kicked her in the face and stomach.
He said a number of witnesses had given the same account but the woman had not wanted to co-operate with police.
Magistrate Mark Bucknall said Langton had a remarkable history of offences of a similar type.
He said Langton had appeared in court on 12 occasions for breaching domestic violence orders since 2004.
“That’s appalling,” he said.
“You have been sentenced numerous times to sentences of imprisonment … you don’t get the message.”
Solicitor Alan Korobacz, for Langton, said his client and his partner had been together for 20 years and had 10 children – five boys and five girls.
He said the partner had not made a complaint to police and there was no medical evidence to indicate she had been injured.
However, Magistrate Bucknall said there was no need to prove bodily harm as Langton was not charged with assault.
He ordered that the 32 days Langton had been held in custody be treated as “time served”. He set a parole release date of January 22, 2014.
