David Beveridge Kelly: Perenjori man avoids jail time after pleading guilty to headbutting partner

A Perenjori man who pushed and headbutted his partner while intoxicated has been given a nine-month intensive supervision order.

David Beveridge Kelly, 41, was convicted of aggravated common assault on October 27, after an altercation with his 39-year old female partner in their home in Perenjori on August 5.

Kelly pleaded guilty to pushing the victim during an argument and then headbutting her in the face.

Kelly and the victim had been arguing over her use of drugs, Geraldton Magistrates Court was told, and the victim had hit Mr Kelly on the head after he pushed her.

The assault happened in front of the victim’s 14-year-old son.

Kelly was intoxicated at the time, and showed a 0.105 blood alcohol level after the incident.

The court was told Kelly accepted responsibility and had apologised to the victim, with whom he remained on amicable terms and paid child support to.

He has also been seeing a psychologist and been receiving help for his alcohol addiction since the incident, according to his lawyer, George Giudice.

Magistrate Angus Hockton decided not to give Kelly a term of imprisonment due to his improvement and his lack of violent history.

However Mr Hockton said the act of a headbutt, given the risk of injury, and the fact a child was present, meant the situation was too serious to be addressed with a fine or community-based order, and instead gave an intensive supervision order.

The order was reduced from 12 months to nine because of Kelly’s guilty plea.