Clayton Donald Hatch: Geraldton man sentenced to 13 months jail over assault of ex-partner and mother

A Geraldton man who assaulted his ex-partner and her mother before threatening to burn their house down among a spate of other offences has been jailed for 13 months. Clayton Donald Hatch appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Thursday for sentencing on nine charges. The 31-year-old is subject to a family violence restraining order which prohibits him from approaching within 50m of the victim and communicating with her. Police prosecutor Sergeant Beau Jones said Hatch assaulted the victim at her mother’s address in Rangeway on August 7. He entered the house, followed the 29-year-old woman into a bedroom and closed the door before grabbing her by the hair and punching the left side of her body. Hatch then took hold of the victim and kneed her to the face and ribs before breaking her phone. Sgt Jones said when the assault stopped, Hatch threatened the victim and the victim’s mother separated the pair. Hatch began fighting the mother and then turned his attention to the victim, punching and kicking her as she was curled up in the foetal position. The mother ran from the property in an attempt to raise the alarm and was followed down the street by Hatch. He demanded her phone and she refused, at which point Hatch stated “I’m going to burn your house down”. Geraldton Police were notified to attend and Hatch fled the scene, but was arrested the next day. The court was told Hatch had previously been on the Barndimalgu specialist family violence program but did not complete it. Defence lawyer Xavier Sellathambu said Hatch’s addiction to methamphetamine had prevented him from engaging in the program. Magistrate Angus Hockton said he would not give Hatch a second chance and sentenced him to 13 months imprisonment, backdated to August 8.