Magistrate Fiona McCarron has extended the release date of a man charged with breaching an apprehended violence order to remind him that he is not allowed to contact his victim.
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Sam Ringk (27) of Goolma Road, Goolma, appeared in Parkes Local Court on Monday, February 3, charged with contravene prohibition or restriction in an apprehended violence order at Parkes on August 27, 2019.
According to police facts tendered in court there is currently an enforceable apprehended violence order between Ringk and his victim and he is in custody in relation to offences committed against the same victim.
Prior to August 14, 2019, Ringk sent a letter from Wellington Correctional Centre to the victim's address.
After the letter was sent, Ringk asked a family member to set up a three way phone call between themselves, Ringk and the victim.
Prior to August 26, 2019, Ringk sent a second letter addressed to friends which contained a one page letter for them and a two page letter for the victim.
The victim reported the incidents to the police.
Ringk was interviewed and made full admissions to sending the letters and breaching his apprehended violence order.
His solicitor told the court her client and the victim are expecting their second child.
"So contact between them clearly has been intermittent," she said.
"I don't think it's as one sided as the prosecution would perhaps like us to believe.
"There are no threats contained in the letters although they are a breach.
"I don't wish to trivialise by saying they are a technical breach, they are more than that."
Magistrate McCarron asked who Ringk was referring to when he said he was going to slit someone's throat in one of the letters.
"That significantly increases the objective criminality, and it's right there in the facts before me," she said.
Ms McIlveen said her client accepts the threat was made.
"The threat was made to the family member, who whether they like it or not is a pawn in the relationship between Mr Ringk and his partner and not directly to the victim herself."
"But it's reflective of his attitude isn't it," Magistrate McCarron said.
The solicitor said her client is in custody until April 24 and has indicated that he would like to go to rehab and would like to be a family again."
Magistrate McCarron said a short sharp period of imprisonment just to top off his release date would be a reminder to him that there is an AVO in place.
"So instead of the 24th of April you'll get out on the 23rd of May. That is a reminder that you are not allowed to contact them."
