Abuser threatens to give girlfriend ‘biggest bashing of her life’ for accidentally stepping on cannabis plant

A 20-year-old Narrikup man convicted of assaulting his girlfriend threatened to give her “the biggest bashing of her life” after she accidentally stepped on one of his 15 cannabis plants. Zac Allan Greay appeared in Albany Magistrate’s Court this month, and pleaded guilty to impeding his girlfriend’s normal breathing or blood circulation by applying pressure to her neck. Greay, who was 19 at the time, also pleaded guilty to assaulting and threatening to harm the 21-year-old woman. Police prosecutor Sgt Peter Yuswack told the court the pair had been in a relationship for 14 months before the “serious offences” took place within days of each other. At 7pm on February 12, after a “heated argument”, Greay put his hands on his girlfriend’s collarbone and around her throat. Greay released his grip and the woman ran to the bathroom. On February 14, Valentine’s Day, the victim was asleep when Greay returned home and accused her of infidelity, Sgt Yuswack said. “The accused leaned over with his hands over the victim’s throat restricting her breathing,” he said. The woman kneed him in the groin, causing him to let go. He then punched her multiple times. The next day, while Greay was tending to his 15 cannabis plants in a paddock, his girlfriend accidentally stood on one. Enraged, Greay said: “That’s it c..., you’re getting the biggest bashing of your life”. In court on June 3, Greay also pleaded guilty to cultivating the illegal crop, possessing five smoking implements, two cannabis grinders, cannabis seeds and a tab of LSD. Defence lawyer Sonia Anderson said her client admitted he went “too far” and was “deeply embarrassed and ashamed”. Ms Anderson said Greay had spent 11 days in custody, which he described as a “sobering experience”. Sgt Yuswack asked the court to consider an immediate term of imprisonment. “The accused had the power to take away his partner’s life,” he said. Magistrate Dianne Scaddan sentenced Greay to 12 months in prison, conditionally suspended for 15 months. He was fined $2000 and placed on a community-based order for 12 months.