A man who broke into his former partner’s home, assaulted her and later flicked blood into a police officer’s face has been sentenced to a suspended jail term.
Jack Ian George Donkin, 33, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault, assaulting a police officer, unlawfully injuring property and four breaches of a family violence order.
The Supreme Court heard Donkin forced his way into the woman’s Burnie home at 5:45am on November 27, 2022, after seeing a social media post showing her with another man.
He was heavily intoxicated and cut his hand smashing through a glass door to gain entry.
Donkin flicked blood from his wound onto the victim’s face, pushed her into a bedside table and struck her near the ear.
When police arrived, he flicked blood directly into an officer’s face while resisting arrest.
Justice Tamara Jago said the officer was required to have two blood tests six months apart to check for infectious diseases.
“Flicking blood at police is a dreadful thing to do,” she said.
The court heard the victim suffered significant psychological harm, becoming hypervigilant, anxious and socially withdrawn.
Her daughter required counselling after witnessing the incident.
Justice Jago said Donkin’s attitude was “very concerning” after he told a report author his victim had ‘set him up’ and he was the ‘only one’ who had suffered.
“Such comments highlight in the most unequivocal manner that you have no comprehension of the seriousness of your conduct and the devastating impact family violence has upon women and children,” she said.
Donkin was sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment, with 12 months suspended.
Having already served two months on remand, he will not return to custody unless he breaches the conditions of his sentence.
He must complete a family violence intervention programme and was issued a two-year family violence order banning contact with his former partner.
