Robert Joseph Keene, 44, of Longreach, faced Brisbane District Court on Thursday having pleaded guilty to one count each of assault and armed assault causing bodily harm.
Chief Judge Brian Devereaux heard Keene had been jailed in Tasmania in 2011 after being found guilty of bashing to death his housemate John Douglas Wilson.
Crown prosecutor Sam Poplawski said Keene had repeatedly attacked a 26-year-old female neighbour at Loganlea, south of Brisbane on February 15, 2022 after she rejected his attempt to start a relationship.
The assaults culminated in Keene lifting the woman by the back of her neck and throwing her into the back of his ute, lacerating her leg as he closed the tailgate.
"When asked by police why he put the victim in the back of the ute, (Keene) said he was 'probably going to knock her', which he clarified meant to kill her," Mr Poplawski said.
"He decided against doing so, which he seemingly regretted at the time of the police interview."
Judge Devereaux heard Keene had earlier entered the woman's home and started verbally abusing her before punching her four times in the head.
The woman then went to Keene's home and started hitting his car with a golf club.
Keene invited the woman to hit him with the club, which she did, breaking off the clubhead in his hand.
"He disarmed the victim and repeatedly struck her (with the club) on the arms and legs," Mr Poplawski said.
Neighbours told Keene to stop but he grabbed the woman and threw her in the ute.
The woman was able to leave the scene after several people called police and her leg injury was later treated with sutures.
Mr Poplawski said Keene had a history of assaulting police, correctional services, a young female shop assistant and an elderly couple in Queensland.
"(Keene) has a propensity for violence over a large span of time that this offending is just a continuing of," Mr Poplawski said.
Defence barrister Joshua Fenton said Keene was removed from his parents at a young age and suffered abuse while in institutional care.
"He suffers abnormality short of insanity ... he has been diagnosed with complex PTSD. He was prescribed anti-psychotic medication," Mr Fenton said.
Judge Devereaux told Keene he had committed serious violent offences while unprovoked.
"Your conduct was worryingly violent. Hitting her with the (golf club) was bad enough. When people saw what was happening, you threw the victim into your ute," the judge said.
"It was demeaning. It would have been absolutely terrifying."
Keene was sentenced to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment and was ordered to be released on parole immediately due to his 417 days on remand.
Judge Devereaux also imposed a six-month suspended sentence and told Keene he would have a return to prison "hanging over your head" if he reoffended in the next two years.
30°C