Damian Smith fled NSW in 2011 arrested, jailed following Orange mercy visit

Damian Lenord Smith, 44, formerly of Toormina, fled NSW while facing multiple charges for assaulting and intimidating a former partner then failing to appear in court but was arrested in Orange after coming to visit a sick relative this year.

Police arrested him in Moad Street on August 14, 2021, after checks revealed there were warrants for his arrest. Although he had family in the region, Smith was reported to be homeless, has been in custody since August 14.

According to police, the victim had been in a short-term relationship with Smith and on October 10, 2011 they were arguing about money at Toormina when he pushed her causing her to hit her head on a pantry door.

At 8.30pm on October 30, 2011, Smith threatened to strangle their dog and an hour later he got close to her face and said, "I'm going to snap the dog's neck."

Smith then kicked the pantry door causing two panes to break, he pulled out all three drawers of the victim's chest of drawers and threw them against a wall causing the drawers to shatter and clothes to be strewn across the room, and he punched a fist-sized hole into the bedroom door.

The victim tried to escape twice and both times he caught her outside and grabbed her throat.

She told police she felt like she could breathe but thought she blacked out the first time and the second time he pushed her against a wall and forced her into the house.

Smith was asleep when police arrived and arrested him. He threatened the police calling one a "f***ing dumb blonde slut," and he told a male police officer that a female officer, "need's a good flogging, I'd give her a good one".

After being released on bail he breached the AVO by living with the victim for another two to three days before fleeing NSW and he did not attend his NSW court appearances.

Police said Smith had a lengthy criminal record across Australia with outstanding warrants in Western Australia and Queensland.

Solicitor Clive Hill said Smith stopped using intravenous drugs seven years ago and he has serious medical issues and has been taken to hospital eight times and has been resuscitated three times.

Magistrate David Day sentenced Smith to four 12-month jail terms with a six-month non-parole period for three counts of intimidating a police officer, and one of common assault.

He also gave Smith three six-month full-time jail sentences for three counts of failing to appear in court.

"They will all be served concurrently, which is a great deal of leniency in my view," he said.

For two counts of damaging the victim's property and for contravening an AVO, Mr Day placed Smith on three 12-month Community Correction Orders.

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