Joseph Jamie Woods: Tambellup man jailed for persistent domestic violence and stalking of long-term partner

A Tambellup man who persistently engaged in family violence for more than five years, including repeatedly breaching restraining orders, stalking and assaulting his partner, has been jailed. Joseph Jamie Woods, 29, appeared in Albany Magistrates Court via video link from Albany Regional Prison on December 9 for sentencing on 27 charges. The charges include breaching a family violence restraining order, aggravated stalking, persistently engaging in family violence, pursuing another to intimidate, assault occasioning bodily harm, and criminal damage or destruction of property. Some of the offences date back to 2019, with the most recent committed in June of 2024. Woods previously pleaded guilty to all charges, and has been remanded in custody since June 29, 2024. Police prosecutor Sgt Warrick Walker told the court the majority of the 22 breaches of a family violence restraining order were digital communications, including text messages and phone calls to the victim. He said police counted more than 40,000 messages and calls between Woods and the victim between February 9, 2023 and May 31, 2024, and said the messages were often coercive, violent, threatening or derogatory. He said the victim felt “defeated” and “trapped” due to the “constant” abusive contact from Woods despite there being a restraining order in place. These breaches culminated in Woods being charged with aggravated stalking. Sgt Walker said between January 1, 2019 and July 9, 2019, Woods and the victim got into an argument over his meth use, and he hit her multiple times, causing cuts and bleeding to her face and tongue. On June 28, 2024, he said Woods and the victim were in another argument, and he kicked the bumper of her car and dented it. He was charged with persistently engaging in family violence between 2019 and 2024. Defence lawyer Elizabeth Hamilton said Woods and the victim had been in a long-term relationship and had a child together, and were both engaging in “toxic” behaviour. “The complainant gave him as good as he was giving her,” she told the court. “That was the nature of the toxic relationship they had for eight years.” Magistrate Erin O’Donnell said while she accepted Ms Hamilton’s explanation that the breaches included input from both parties, Woods’ persistent violent behaviour had a heavy impact on the victim. “She would have felt there was nothing she could do to deter you,” she said. Woods was sentenced to two years jail, backdated to June 29, 2024, and was made eligible for parole. A new family violence restraining order was put in place for the victim, with a five-year duration instead of the standard two years. If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Crisis Care Helpline on 1800 199 008.