Bill Skudder fined over violence restraining order breaches

A 32-year-old man has pleaded guilty to violence restraining order breaches after making several attempts to contact his ex-partner.

Bill Skudder appeared before Rockingham Magistrates Court last Wednesday charged with two breaches of a family violence restraining order.

Prosecutor Senior Constable Jessica Anderson told the court Skudder was served a family violence restraining order on July 5.

One of the conditions of that order was that he not contact or attempt to contact the protected person via phone, text message or any other electronic means.

The victim received four missed phone calls from Skudder on July 7. The following day they received one missed phone call and one text message saying “I love you my baby”.

The victim took screenshots of the breaches and Skudder was arrested.

When interviewed by police, his explanation was “I miss my children”.

Duty counsellor Stacey Byrne said the “facts were accepted” but the victim had contacted Skudder first and “he believed that it was in relation to the children”, which was why he made further attempts to contact.

The current VRO only allows for contact in relation to the children via email.

“He does accept that the phone call and text message was in breach of the VRO,” Ms Byrne said.

“Mr Skudder also explained that the protected person does continue to try and contact him and also told him two weeks ago that the violence restraining order had been cancelled, but as advised that is not the case.”

Magistrate Belinda Coleman said “given the circumstances it would be unjust to consider a term of imprisonment”.

Ms Coleman warned Skudder that if he was to come back before the court on other breaches, he might not be so “fortunate”.

Skudder received a $400 fine and ordered to pay court costs of $264.30.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)