'Say goodbye to the kids': Man allegedly threatened to kill ex-partner

The man - who the Mail-Times has chosen not to name to protect the victims' identities - fronted the Magistrates' Court charged with making threats to kill and breaching an intervention order. He did not enter a plea.

The court was told the man and his ex-partner were in a long-term relationship and had children together. After they separated, an intervention order prohibited the man from contacting his ex-partner, unless it was in writing, about the children and at most seven times a week.

Police allege the months-long string of threats started when the man left 59 voice-to-text messages in one day.

The court heard the man would attempt to contact the victim almost daily, and that many of the messages he left were often explicit.

"Sorry, you threw me out so you could get some **** ****. You took my kids away, what did you expect," the man is alleged to have said.

It's alleged the threats became increasingly violent.

On one day, police allege the accused sent four messages with the names of well-known victims of family violence, implying his ex-partner would share the same fate.

"You wonder why these women got chopped up," the man is alleged to have said.

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The next day the man is accused of sending 78 voice messages including: "see you at your exercise class you lying ****" and "hope you've killed yourself you lying ****."

On a separate day, the man allegedly threatened to travel to the victim's home.

"It'll take less than 24 hours to get there, and you don't want me to get there," he is accused of saying.

Police allege the most serious threats came over a two-day period when the man allegedly left 158 messages.

The man is accused of saying:

"Don't hate the kids. Don't hate me. I'm not going to put up with this much longer.

"Make sure you get up early to say goodbye to your kids.

"Make sure you're home around 12ish because I'll be there you lying, ugly s**t.

"If you're not home around 12 I'll burn the house down, and we'll see if your girlfriend takes you in or not.

"If you listen urgently, you could probably hear the fire engines."

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Police said the man was arrested and admitted to contacting the victim, but denied threatening to harm her.

The man told the court he wasn't aware of the restrictions of the intervention order.

"I didn't realise I was doing anything wrong. I definitely haven't threatened to hurt her or kill her," he said.

"I'm trying to contact my children. There's not a chance in hell I would abuse her. I'm absolutely no danger to her. I'm no threat to her."

Magistrate Noreen Toohey noted much of the alleged offending had been in the presence of children and the victim now lived in a state of fear.

"It's fair to say many of the messages are chilling," she said. "Particularly the ones that say 'enjoy your last sleep' and 'say goodbye'.

"Distance appears to make no matter to the threats he's willing to make.

"He is an enormous risk to the victim and children, so given the amount and nature of the breaches he is likely to re-offend."

The man was remanded in custody and will re-appear in court at a later date.

If you or anyone you know needs help, contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). In an emergency, call triple zero

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