By Nick Newling
A Coogee man with a history of domestic violence who dumped his ex-girlfriend’s two pet snakes on the street has been labelled a bully by a magistrate for the “mean” and “hateful” crime which would have left the reptiles distressed.
Justin Downs, 26, appeared before Waverley Local Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to one count of domestic violence-related destruction of property. Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge told Downs that if he returned to court she would “send you to jail so fast your legs won’t hit the ground”.
Justin Downs has been sentenced after dumping his ex-partner’s snakes on a Coogee street.Credit: Nick Moir
In October 2023, hours after his ex-girlfriend broke up with him over the phone, Downs destroyed two reptile enclosures that were kept at his home in Coogee before dumping the woman’s pythons, Bagel and Mango, on the street, according to the agreed facts.
Downs was arrested at Randwick police station six days later. He was charged with two counts of destruction of property and two counts of animal abandonment. Three of the charges were withdrawn ahead of his sentence.
The snakes were later found and returned to their owner.
As she sentenced Downs, Milledge described the incident as “a really mean, mean, hateful thing to do”, and said “the distress that these animals must have felt when this was happening … [was] an aggravating factor”.
Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge said the “distress that these animals must have felt” was an aggravating factor in her sentencing.
“You ought to be ashamed of yourself,” the magistrate said to Downs in court. “You’re just a bully. You don’t get your own way so you smash things up.”
Downs’ lawyer described the offence as “one that was done in a moment of anger, in a moment of passion, he was upset”, saying that “it was vindictive, it was spiteful, and it was mean”. She also said Downs had been consulting a psychologist weekly to manage personal issues since before the incident.
The incident in question was Downs’ third offence of domestic violence-related damage to property, with previous incidents involving damage to a door, a wall, a chest of drawers, a portable heater, a clothes rack, and an LCD television, the court heard.
Downs’ lawyer defended her client’s character, saying that he was sober and currently enrolled in an alcohol management program, and that he was someone that “gives back to the community”, citing that he has a job and pays taxes.
She also said Downs owns an eastern suburbs Jim’s Mowing business, but has been unable to work for the last three months after being involved in a car accident that injured his ribs, lungs and shoulder, leaving him in a coma for three weeks.
Downs was convicted and sentenced to a 30-month community correction order. He must also pay $1281.95 in restitution to the woman, who he is prohibited from contacting for two years under an apprehended domestic violence order.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).
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