R v. Brett Harbourne [2025] NSWDC 388 is a sentencing decision from the District Court of New South Wales, Australia, delivered on 15 November 2025 by Judge A. M. Cole SC. The case provides a clear illustration of how NSW courts balance the serious nature of domestic violence with principles of rehabilitation for first-time offenders, utilizing the mechanism of an Intensive Correction Order (ICO).
The offender, Brett Harbourne (42), a former logistics manager, was found guilty of recklessly causing serious bodily harm under s 35(2) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) (maximum penalty: seven years’ jail).
Factual and Offence Summary
The case stemmed from a severe domestic violence incident fuelled by alcohol misuse and jealousy. Harbourne attacked his partner on 14 February 2025, causing a fractured eye socket, cuts requiring 12 stitches, heavy bruising, and subsequent psychological harm (PTSD).
The court stressed that domestic violence is extremely serious and that protecting the community and deterring such behaviour are major sentencing goals. Despite this, the court balanced the seriousness of the assault against Harbourne’s strong mitigating factors.
Legal Issues and Principles Applied
The main legal issue was determining the appropriate sentence by combining the objective seriousness of the offence with the offender’s subjective circumstances, using the “instinctive synthesis” method required by NSW sentencing law.
- Objective Seriousness
The court found the offence to be of mid-range seriousness. Key factors that aggravated the objective seriousness were:
- The assault targeted the victim’s head and face.
- It occurred in a domestic setting, constituting a grave breach of trust and involving a power imbalance.
- The serious injuries were foreseeable consequences of his reckless actions.
- Mitigating Factors
Harbourne presented significant factors supporting a less punitive sentence:
- No previous convictions.
- Genuine remorse.
- Early guilty plea, resulting in a 20% sentencing discount under the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (CSPA).
- Voluntary rehabilitation: Completion of a behaviour-change program prior to sentencing.
- A stable work history and supportive family environment.
- Low risk of reoffending with proper treatment for untreated alcohol addiction (as per psychological report).
- Aggravating Factors
The primary aggravating factors were the breach of trust within the domestic relationship and the violence being committed while the offender was intoxicated.
Sentencing Outcome and Analysis
Judge Cole determined that a sentence of full-time imprisonment was not the only appropriate option. The imposition of an Intensive Correction Order (ICO) under s 66 CSPA allowed the court to impose stringent punishment, close supervision, and mandatory rehabilitation simultaneously.
Final Sentence
Harbourne received a notional sentence of 3 years 9 months, which, after the 20% discount for the guilty plea, resulted in a final sentence of three years’ imprisonment, to be served by ICO in the community.
The ICO included strict conditions:
- Strict Supervision for 36 months.
- Mandatory alcohol abstinence with random testing.
- Continued attendance in a domestic-violence program.
- 200 hours of community service.
- No contact with the victim without court approval.
- A two-year ADVO (Apprehended Domestic Violence Order) was also issued.
Broader Implications
This case aligns with the modern NSW approach, exemplified by R v. Davis [2017], where courts favour non-custodial sentences when rehabilitation prospects are strong, provided the community can be safely protected. Research by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) has indicated that ICOs can be more effective than short periods of imprisonment in reducing reoffending in domestic-violence cases.
The decision underscores the judiciary’s increasing focus on tackling underlying issues like alcohol misuse as a condition of release.
Comparison Table: Sentencing in Similar Matters
|
Factor |
R v. Harbourne |
R v. Blackman |
R v. Doan |
|
Seriousness |
Mid-range assault (Recklessly causing serious bodily harm) |
High (Weapon used) |
Low (Minor force) |
|
Prior Record |
None |
Several priors |
None |
|
Sentence |
3-year ICO |
4 years prison |
12-month ICO |
|
Key Mitigant |
Early plea, genuine remorse, rehabilitation |
Remorse |
Youth, first offence |
Conclusion
R v. Harbourne demonstrates a balanced application of the CSPA: strong condemnation of domestic violence is paired with a commitment to rehabilitation for first-time offenders who demonstrate genuine remorse. While full-time imprisonment remains necessary for repeat or severe offenders, the use of ICOs provides a mechanism for accountability, close supervision, and a path to behavioural change, ensuring that liberty is conditional on strict adherence to therapeutic and abstinence requirements.
