Geraldton police fight for Mid West man to be labelled ‘serial offender’ under new law

Police are fighting for a 37-year-old man to be declared the first serial family violence offender in the Mid West following a sustained attack on his partner last weekend when he bit her and tried to strangle her with a phone charging cord. Vincent Reginald Lewis was arrested by police in Carnamah on Saturday following the attack the previous night, pleading guilty to unlawful assault occasioning bodily harm in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Prosecutor Sgt Troy Guildersleeve then filed a motion asking the court to declare the man a serial offender under new legislation introduced this year. The law, which came into effect on January 1, contains provisions designed to make it easier for courts and police to minimise the risk of reoffending and requires a proven history of domestic violence. Being declared a serial family violence offender disqualifies someone from holding or obtaining a firearms licence and a Dangerous Goods Safety Act licence. According to the WA Department of Justice, seven people have been declared serial offenders since the Act’s introduction, with none so far in the Mid West. The court was told Lewis and his partner of four years were visiting a family member in Carnamah where he became enraged by the woman listening to music in bed, biting her on the forearm and leg. “The accused told the victim to go to sleep and punched her in the face,” Sgt Guildersleeve said. “He then grabbed the phone charger and attempted to put it around her neck and apply pressure.” He said the woman fought him off and they went to sleep. The following day the attack continued and the woman sought help at a local restaurant. Magistrate Chris Miocevich said this was the first time the court had had to deal with an application to have a person declared a serial family violence offender. “It’s a new provision and requires assessment of the offender by an expert,” he said. Lewis was remanded into custody at Greenough Regional Prison after Sgt Guildersleeve said police held “absolutely no faith Mr Lewis would abide by protective bail conditions”.