By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A SERIAL family violence offender has asked a court for another chance after damaging property during tirades at an employment agency and at a close relative’s home.
Corey May, 22, of Cranbourne West, had arrived at 12pm on 8 October, three hours late for an appointment at the Cranbourne agency.
Upon being told he couldn’t be booked in for another appointment, May became agitated and verbally abusive.
He damaged a chair beyond repair when he threw it several metres, in the vicinity of a manager.
May made full admissions and apologised to the agency after the incident, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court was told on 7 December.
In a separate incident on 11 November, an enraged May damaged a close relative’s back door handle, and punched a hole in the wooden front door of a Cranbourne West home.
May then phoned his ex-partner, telling her she’d “won”. He stepped in front of a slow-moving bus, but was knocked over without injury.
The accused later told police he’d prefer to punch objects rather than the relative – who has since been protected by an intervention order.
May had spent a “distressing” past 25 days in remand custody but had prospered from having “time to consider the impact of his behaviour”, his lawyer Emma Drummond told the court.
The accused was also keen to undergo a men’s behaviour change program and grief counselling over the death of a close family member two years ago.
“His offending does date from around the time of (the relative’s) death,” Ms Drummond said.
“He hasn’t had counselling in relation to that.”
May is set to appear at a County Court appeal in February against a jail sentence for domestic violence.
The accused had been convicted over assaulting and threatening to kill his ex-partner.
He told Dandenong Magistrate’s Court he “wanted to do better for myself”.
“I really want to make the change this time and do the right thing.”
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen noted May had breached two community corrections orders for family violence since 2013 – and that the trigger was a close relative’s death.
He said May’s problematic drug taking was partly fuelled by vulnerability.
“I get the impression you’re not that tough. When you were first brought into custody, you were devastated.”
He also factored in May’s youthfulness and family support, and that he was now willing to take responsibility for his actions.
“You want to change, to engage and deal with your grief issues … I’m going to give you that opportunity.”
May was convicted and put on a 12-month community corrections order with judicial monitoring and drug and mental health treatment.
His 25 days in remand was counted as time served.
As May was led out through the police cells, he said to Mr Vandersteen: “Merry Christmas by the way.”
