Great Southern teacher fined $3000 for assaulting daughter outside her primary school in front of witnesses

A Great Southern teacher has been fined more than $3000 after he assaulted his daughter outside her primary school as parents and students watched on. The man appeared in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with aggravated common assault. Police prosecutor Warrick Walker told the court the father pushed his daughter to the ground while collecting her from her primary school in June. The father left the child on the ground and walked away before returning a short time later, screaming at her as he stood over her before grabbing her neck with both hands and holding her throat. After a few seconds, a bystander intervened and the man released his grip. The victim was highly emotional after the incident and had to be comforted by surrounding witnesses before her mother came to collect her. Defence lawyer Bruno Illari said the man was remorseful for the “momentary overreaction” and had been suffering from poor mental health after a recent break-up. “(The man) doesn’t entirely remember the incident but accepts that he was highly emotional at the time,” he said. “It was a momentary overreaction. “The implications are already quite profound, affecting the career he loves and hopes to continue, and resulting in a family restraining order.” The man shares custody of the child with his ex-wife but is currently prevented from seeing her by a family violence restraining order. He was suspended from his employment following the incident and is undergoing counselling. Magistrate Erin O’Donnell said the offender had no prior record and was of good character but noted any incident of family violence was serious. “It is an incident where clearly there was an over and inappropriate reaction to a disagreement,” she said. “I appreciate that children ... can be difficult to deal with, can make parents irrationally angry when they behave in certain ways, however, it is never acceptable to respond with an assault. “Even though there was no bodily harm occasioned, with her young age, there was no doubt she will have suffered ongoing effects.” The man was fined $3000 plus court costs of $141.50. Ms O’Donnell granted Mr Illari’s request for a spent conviction on the grounds that she was satisfied the man would not commit a similar act again.