By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A MAN faced further jail after being found guilty of lighting spray from an aerosol can near his ex-partner’s face.
Andrew James Walker, of Mulgrave, had been on appeal bail and a corrections order at the time of the incident at the victim’s Dandenong South home on 30 August.
Walker had just appealed a four-month jail term at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court six days earlier for family violence intervention order breaches against the same victim.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Tanique McFarlane told the court on Monday that Walker had drunk a bottle of 18 per cent alcohol “shaken premium smoothie” mix when he arrived at the victim’s house about 1am on 30 August.
He was at the time banned from being with 200 metres of the address when alcohol-affected.
Walker invited the ex-partner to central Dandenong where they bought two more smoothie mix bottles, then smoke and drank on the banks of Dandenong Creek.
The court was told Walker became frustrated and punched the victim to the right side of her head.
She was followed home by him despite telling him to leave.
At her home, Walker picked up a Rexona aerosol can and lit a flame near her face.
The victim said she could feel heat from the fire but was protected from injury by her cap.
Walker then left and was arrested in an alcohol-affected state by police when he returned that evening.
Police stated Walker was too aggressive to be interviewed at the time.
Walker initially denied punching the victim repeatedly in the thigh during a drinking session behind Waverley Gardens shopping centre in April, but pleaded guilty during Monday’s sentence indication hearing.
During the altercation, the victim bit Walker on the chest. He followed her to a nearby friend’s house to sleep overnight.
Defence lawyer Bernard Keating said the “penny might have dropped” for Walker now that he faced his first prison stint, and he had attended behavioural change and treatment as part of his corrections order.
“There’s a number of things that can be admired about him.
“At first blush, he drinks too much and is violent but there’s also positive (aspects).”
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said Walker needed to address his violent behaviour fuelled by his drinking habit – self-estimated at about one bourbon bottle a day.
Mr Vandersteen noted Walker’s most recent violence occurred despite having an appeal with a jail term “hanging over his head”.
“If your client doesn’t address his behaviour, the chances of the complainant being hurt or killed are very high.”
Walker pleaded guilty to all charges after Mr Vandersteen indicated a five months’ jail sentence, followed by a corrections order.
“He’s not going to get a straight (jail) term,“ Mr Vandersteen said.
“He can’t, not with those issues.”
