Capel man Ashley Gleeson jailed over hitting partner’s cousin with pole while trying to confront someone else

A 43-year-old Capel man is set to spend the next eight months behind bars after hitting his partner’s cousin with a wooden pole, breaking his jaw and knocking him unconscious, while trying to confront someone else over an alleged sexual assault. Ashley Gleeson was sentenced to two years and four months jail that was partially suspended by the Bunbury District Court after previously pleading guilty to a charge of grievous bodily harm. The court was told Gleeson, his partner and several friends, including the victim, were socialising and consuming alcohol at the Capel Country Club during one night in May 2018. Gleeson left at some point during the evening, while his partner stayed with their friends to continue socialising. Later that evening, Gleeson’s partner returned home where she alleged one of their friends had “sexually assaulted” her by inappropriately touching her, prompting Gleeson to drive to the victim’s home where the rest of the group had gathered after leaving the Capel Country Club. Upon entry to the rear yard of the property, Gleeson grabbed a wooden pole that was resting near the entry gate and approached the victim and another man who were seated with their backs toward Gleeson. Gleeson then used the wooden pole to strike the other man in the head, knocking him unconscious, but when he went to take another swing, he struck the victim in the head, rendering him unconscious as well. A third man who was at the property confronted Gleeson, to which Gleeson responded that he should have protected his partner, before leaving the property. The victim woke up the next morning with little memory of what happened and significant pain in his jaw and bloodied bedsheets, prompting him to drive himself to Bunbury Hospital. However, the victim lost consciousness again in the Bunbury Hospital carpark until a passer-by roused him and helped him inside. It was determined the victim suffered a broken jaw as a result of the attack. In submissions, Gleeson’s defence counsel John Hawkins told the court Gleeson did not intend on hitting the victim, instead intent on confronting the man his partner had accused of inappropriately touching her earlier that night. Mr Hawkins also noted a “kaleidoscope of references” which described Gleeson as a “good father, husband, friend and worker” who was a prosocial and generally law-abiding member of the community. A victim impact statement that was submitted to the court described the significant impact the incident had on the victim, who has since withdrawn himself from large social gatherings because he felt he cannot trust anyone. In sentencing, District Court Judge Linda Petrusa said while the sexual assault allegations Gleeson’s partner made explained the offending, he caused “significant harm to an innocent man”. “(The victim) did nothing to you,” she said. “While you intended on confronting someone over sexual assault allegations, you simply can’t take the law into your own hands.”