A Headlands Hotel chef accused of holding a knife to his girlfriend's throat during a brutal assault has been released on strict conditional bail.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ben Michael Cunningham, 41, was at his West Wollongong home with the alleged victim on the evening of February 4 when the pair began arguing about a broken grill on the stove.
The argument became heated and the pair resorted to name calling. The victim went and sat on the lounge to get away from Cunningham, who remained in the kitchen.
However, it is alleged Cunningham approached the woman from behind, grabbed her by her hair and dragged onto the floor, then into the kitchen.
The victim allegedly asked "are you done" before returning to the lounge and laying down.
It is alleged Cunningham followed her and began kicking her in the stomach and head. The victim told police she was on the floor on her hands and knees trying to protect herself when Cunningham allegedly went back into the kitchen and picked up a large knife.
It is alleged he positioned himself behind the victim, got her in a headlock and held the knife against her throat.
"The victim believed the accused was going to cut her throat and put her hands up to try and stop him," a set of police facts tendered to Wollongong Local Court said.
"As this happened, the victim was cut by the knife on her right thumb....causing a 7cm-long laceration."
The woman told police she began screaming and tried to stem the bleeding with a towel, while reaching for her phone to call triple-zero.
It is alleged Cunningham told her "you don't need that [an ambulance], it serves you right for cutting yourself with my knife. You don't use them properly, that's what I'm going to tell the police."
Police arrived a short time later to discover the woman "crying hysterically" while holding onto her bleeding thumb.
She allegedly told police Cunningham had inflicted the wound, however Cunningham allegedly told officers the victim had cut herself while using the knife on bread.
The victim was taken to hospital where doctors stitched up her thumb. They also allegedly recorded scratches and bruising to her neck, chin and stomach and skin off her nose and elbow.
Meanwhile, Cunningham was arrested and taken to Wollongong Police Station where he was charged with reckless wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
In court last week, Cunningham's mother agreed to deposit $500 cash to secure his release on bail.
He was granted strict bail and must comply with the conditions of an apprehended domestic violence order.