Lawrence Jones: ‘Incredibly violent man’ jailed before Christmas for punching 19-year-old daughter in the head

An “incredibly violent man” who punched his daughter in the face when she tried to calm him down during a violent altercation in Kalgoorlie’s main street will spend Christmas behind bars. Lawrence Jones was in a fight with another person in St Barbara’s Square on November 19 when he punched his 19-year-old daughter in the head after she shook his finger at him to tell him off. The assault came just days after the 44-year-old was released from jail after serving 18 months jail for stripping his former partner naked in Kalgoorlie’s main street, dousing her with liquid and dragging her 400m to a home where he repeatedly punched her, choked her and shoved his fingers down her throat until she couldn’t breathe. Jones, who has auditory and hearing impairments, appeared in Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court for sentencing last week. He is a declared serial family violence offender with a criminal record which magistrate Paul Lyons said pointed to a “pretty continual onslaught” of violent offences. Defence lawyer David Pawson said Jones’ offence was “reactionary” to what was going on before his daughter intervened and said his sensory deprivation may have heightened his stimulus and reactions in that moment. He called for magistrate Paul Lyons to impose no further punishment than fines for the offence, which was rejected by the prosecution and Mr Lyons. Mr Pawson then suggested a community order, but Mr Lyons said the recent law changes would mean Jones would require electronic monitoring if released on an order, something the court already ruled was not possible in his hometown of Leonora. Mr Pawson then called for any jail term to be suspended, noting Jones had already experienced “social shame” for punching his daughter and he was remorseful for his actions. Prosecuting Sgt Sophia Walton called for immediate imprisonment for Jones who she called an “incredibly violent man”. “He is a declared serial family violence offender for a good reason — he is very violent,” she said. “The prosecution does not accept he is remorseful. If he was remorseful, he would do something to correct that behaviour.” Mr Lyons agreed genuine remorse required more than words. “It is extremely worrying you have not been deterred by previous sentences of imprisonment,” he said. “Your first response continues to be violence. “You should not be violent to anyone . . . especially a family member and particularly your 19-year-old daughter who you are bigger and stronger than”. Jones was jailed for six months and one day after pleading guilty to a downgraded assault charge.