AN award-winning Australian filmmaker who had a violent “temper tantrum” towards his model ex-girlfriend, then became aggressive to Perth police, has been spared an immediate prison sentence.
Daniel Houghton, also known as Jimmy The Exploder, was convicted of offences including deprivation of liberty, aggravated common assault, obstructing police and disorderly behaviour stemming from an incident at an Applecross home in January 2017.
The Black Balloon filmmaker, then aged 39, detained his 21-year-old girlfriend after they argued about him receiving text messages from other women, the West Australian District Court heard on Friday.
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READ NOWHe refused to let the woman leave for about 20 minutes and during his “temper tantrum” grabbed her arms, repeatedly pushed her, threw her bag against a wall and pulled out his own hair.
“Quite naturally, (she) was frightened by your behaviour,” Judge Ronald Birmingham said.
“She was crying and told you she wanted to leave, that she didn’t feel safe.”
The woman managed to send a text message to her mother, telling her Houghton was “banging on the walls and pushing” her.
Her mother called police but Houghton was aggressive towards the officers and told them to leave.
He then started recording on his phone and sat in the middle of the driveway to stop the officers removing the victim’s car before he was finally arrested.
Judge Birmingham said Houghton’s nickname Jimmy The Exploder was “appropriate in the circumstances”.
“It was a violent, forcible detention of a vulnerable young girl who was terrified by your conduct towards her,” he said.
Judge Birmingham said he admired the patience of the police officers.
“Each of the officers … displayed commendable restraint in the face of what was most unpleasant abuse,” he said.
He also noted Houghton had since apologised to the police officers and was ashamed.
“You do not only regret your actions but regret the extent to which you hurt the complainant by your actions.”
Houghton was sentenced to 18 months in prison, wholly suspended, and fined including an order that he pay $3500 to his ex-girlfriend.
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