Clayton James Phillips was sentenced to serve just 15 days of jail on top of the 380 he spent in custody while awaiting “justice”.
In cutting Phillips loose, County Court Judge John Smallwood declared he would be surprised if he didn’t offend again.
The court heard Phillips menaced his girlfriend of 18 months with a knife and asked if she would fit into a wheelie bin.
“You started to talk about dying, about calling the police and holding her hostage,” Judge Smallwood said.
Held down and with the brute suffocating her, the woman made a “religious pronouncement” to Phillips, which probably saved her life.
She had gone to Phillips’ house to celebrate his birthday.
“You asked her what would be a better way to die — to be burnt alive or drowned in a half bucket of water,” Judge Smallwood said.
Phillips slapped his naked victim in the face before locking her in his house.
When she tried to escape, Phillips grabbed her and pulled her back into the kitchen.
“She began screaming for help. At that stage you pushed her to the floor, climbed on top of her and covered her mouth, blocking her nose, which caused her to stop breathing momentarily,” the judge said.
“There was a struggle and she managed to get your hand off her mouth. She yelled to let her go home. She apparently made a religious pronouncement towards you, which ... appeared to calm you down.”
Phillips went to sleep and the woman escaped.
He pleaded guilty to one charge each of false imprisonment and common law assault.
It was not the first time Phillips had assaulted the woman. On release next week Phillips, 46, has indicated he will pick up his van from the Latrobe Valley area and roam Australia.
