A Cooktown man has been sent to prison after being convicted for a third time of assaulting his much younger domestic partner, in a case described by a judge as a continuation of a violent pattern.
History of Violence Leads to Custody
Jarrod Anthony Wust, a 34-year-old machine operator, was sentenced in the Cairns District Court on Monday, 13 May 2024. He pleaded guilty to one charge of assault occasioning bodily harm against his 23-year-old partner. The court heard this was his third conviction for assault against the same woman.
The most recent attack occurred in Cooktown on 1 October 2023. An argument escalated, and Wust punched the victim in the face, causing significant swelling and bruising. The assault was reported to police the following day.
A Pattern of Abuse and Breached Orders
The court was informed of Wust's prior convictions for assaulting the victim in 2022 and 2023. He was subject to a domestic violence protection order at the time of the latest offence, which he blatantly breached.
Judge Dean Morzone noted the significant age gap and the clear power imbalance in the relationship. He highlighted the repetitive nature of the offending, stating the latest assault was part of an "ongoing course of violent conduct" against the young woman.
Defence barrister Paul Rutledge argued for a suspended sentence, citing his client's employment, remorse, and the birth of the couple's child in December 2023. However, Judge Morzone found the seriousness of the breach and the need for deterrence and community protection outweighed those factors.
Sentence and Final Warning
Jarrod Wust was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment. With the 164 days he had already spent in pre-sentence custody declared as time served, his parole eligibility date was set for 13 May 2024, effectively meaning his immediate release was possible.
However, Judge Morzone issued a stern warning. He ordered Wust to be released on parole immediately but made it clear that any further violence would result in him serving the full remainder of his sentence behind bars. The judge emphasised that this was his "last chance".
The case underscores the Queensland courts' approach to repeated domestic violence offences, even when the perpetrator expresses remorse and has community ties. The sentence balances punishment with a structured opportunity for rehabilitation under strict parole conditions.
