Stephen John Gould: Moresby man fined after assaulting partner with Esky lid and leaving gun unsecured

A Moresby man who threw an Esky lid at his partner because he was frustrated there was not enough food prepared for dinner has been ordered to pay her $1000 in fines. Stephen John Gould, 67, appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court this week when he was sentenced on family violence and firearm charges dating back to January 24, 2023. After negotiations, one count of aggravated stalking and pointing a firearm at another were discontinued. Gould pleaded guilty to aggravated common assault, five counts of breaching a family violence restraining order, two counts of unlicensed possession of firearm, two counts of inadequate storage of firearms, possess an unlawfully altered firearm and possess silencer. The court was told Gould became agitated when his 52-year-old partner of six years returned home at the lack of food for dinner. Police prosecutor Sgt Carey Owen said Gould went to fill a container of water when he smashed it and said “I do all the work around here”. He threw an Esky lid at the victim, struck her to the face and pushed her, which caused her to fall on to garden chairs. The court heard one of the party’s sons came to the woman’s aid and contacted police as Gould continued to throw and destroy items around the home. When police attended, they searched the property and Sgt Owen said they found a loaded Marlin .22 bolt action rifle leaning against the wall inside an unlocked shed toilet. The rifle was modified with a lengthened barrel and a silencer was attached. A large cardboard box containing more than 9000 rounds of mixed ammunition was found on the floor of the shed. Police seized 11 guns and one handgun in total, nine of which Gould was licensed to possess. Sgt Owen said Gould breached violence restraining orders by texting the woman, following her and leaving messages where he believed she was staying. Defence lawyer George Giudice said Gould was suffering from the loss of his wife, who took her own life in 2015, and had not sought help for his mental health. Mr Giudice said Gould was also dealing with his business of 10 years failing and had eventually taken up the victim’s advice that he seek help for post-traumatic stress disorder. The court was also told the silencer, which previously belonged to a late relative, was attached to the rifle because rabbits were plaguing the property and Gould did not want to disturb neighbours. The box of ammunition was given to him by a neighbour who did not know how to get rid of it and Gould planned to drop the box in to a gun shop the day after the raids, the court heard. Magistrate Kelly Thompson said leaving guns and ammunition unsecured demonstrated “extreme carelessness” and a “disregard for the law”. She said “any level of violence in a domestic setting is unacceptable” but took into account Gould had no criminal record, had unresolved grief and his emotional state had deteriorated. “I am minded to view that the conduct was a result of not coping and not something more sinister,” she said. Gould was fined $2000, half of which was to be paid to the victim. He also received a six-month community based order and was granted a spent conviction. There was an order for forfeiture for all firearms. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)