Corey Brett Charlton: Geraldton man jailed for hitting partner during heated argument following fight with ex

A Geraldton man has been handed a jail term for striking his new partner in the face, who he blamed after he just had a fight with his ex-partner. Corey Brett Charlton, 35, appeared in Geraldton Magistrate Court on Thursday via video link from Greenough Prison for sentencing on a charge of unlawful assault causing bodily harm charge, to which he previously pleaded guilty. Police prosecutor Sen. Const. Paul White told the court the offence occurred five years ago, but Charlton had fled to Northern Territory and only returned to WA this year, when he was arrested. Sen. Const. White said the incident happened on March 11, 2018 at 11.45pm when Charlton’s ex-partner had come to his house and they were arguing out the front about custody of Charlton’s son. After Charlton’s ex-partner left, he came inside the house and started arguing with his current partner, blaming her for not being able to see his son. The court was told during the argument, Charlton struck his partner on the left side of the face. She managed to escape the house shortly after with her mum waiting out the front in a car, but Charlton followed and continued to try to keep arguing. The victim and her mum drove away, but Charlton got in his car and attempted to pursue, before giving up. Charlton was then arrested by police but claimed he did not do it, instead blaming his ex-partner for striking her in the face. Defence lawyer Alexander Dew said the court would have been understandably frustrated when Charlton fled the jurisdiction and could not deal with the case for five years. Mr Dew said Charlton had shown a willingness to go through rehabilitation and had a good working background. Magistrate Angus Hockton noted Charlton was already in prison serving a 10-month sentence handed to him by the District Court in May. Mr Hockton condemned Charlton’s actions, telling him “violence of this kind is intolerable”. “You’re having a dispute with your ex-partner and you blame your new partner for that,” he said. “You get into an argument and strike her. . . when she tried to leave, for a period you pursued her.” The magistrate placed Charlton on a five-month jail term that would run concurrent with his existing sentence. “There is not much I can do about the sentencing you are serving from District Court,” he said. “If this was isolated, I am still of the view that immediate imprisonment would be necessary.” 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)