'Out of control' drunk repeatedly assaulted woman, attacked dog with broom

After downing 24 beers, a drunk was “out of control” when he repeatedly assaulted a woman and attacked her dog with a broom.

Having already spent about four months in custody, Mitchell MacNaughton was spared being returned to jail over the April 2023 attack when he was sentenced by the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday (24 October).

Magistrate Jane Campbell said he’d been highly intoxicated from drinking 24 cans of beer and had become agitated. He was at a house with a woman and started to verbally abuse her, then threw her into a wall, causing her to hit her head.

She tried to hide in a bedroom with her dogs, but he pushed her and stabbed the door with a knife – also managing to cut himself in the head with the blade at some point.

He smashed a mirror and hit her dog with a broom, so the woman tried to flee into a garage.

However, he followed, took her phone and stabbed it before telling her she couldn’t call anyone for help.

He pushed her over, kicked her in the ribs and held her down. When she tried to get out of the house with her dogs, he shoved her head into a garage door.

She escaped and was helped by a passer-by, who took her to their home and called police. She was left with a cut and bruising to her face.

Magistrate Campbell said MacNaughton’s aggression was “totally unprovoked” and noted the woman had continued to be assaulted when she was “forced to escape”. She told him everything had demonstrated to his victim that “you were out of control”.

The magistrate also said hitting an animal created fear in a human who witnessed it.

“Animals are unable to protect themselves, and they are meant to be cared for by humans,” she said.

She said it seemed alcohol was his main risk factor.

Prosecutor Tahni Whybrow had argued it was a serious example of assault due to the injuries sustained, their location on the woman’s face and the extended period of the attack.

MacNaughton’s lawyer, Legal Aid’s Rhiannon Oats, said he was very remorseful for his behaviour, lived interstate and worked full-time as a carpenter.

She said he had been diagnosed with bipolar, depression and ADHD.

MacNaughton pleaded guilty to charges of assault, hitting an animal and property damage.

He spent over four months in custody before being granted bail earlier this year.

The 35-year-old was convicted and sentenced to a total of six months and two weeks’ jail, which was backdated to account for time served and fully suspended from Tuesday for a 12-month good behaviour order.

This means he was able to leave the courthouse that afternoon but has about two months remaining on a suspended sentence.