Bridgetown man Kevin Potter warned to stay out of Bunbury as court grants bail for attack on ex-partner

A Bridgetown man has been ordered by the court to stay out of Bunbury after attacking his ex-partner who claimed he was a murderer. Kevin Potter, 33, appeared in custody at Bunbury Magistrate’s Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to common assault in circumstances of aggravation, and two breaches of a family violence restraining order. On November 5, Potter attended the East Bunbury residence of his ex-partner, when the pair broke out into an argument over another male, with whom Potter accused the victim of being unfaithful with. The dispute then turned physical, Potter headbutting the victim on the right of her head near the hairline, kneeing her in the head with his right knee. The victim was able to retreat to a nearby bedroom where she shut the door, at which Potter continued to kick, and escaped out of a window before calling the police. In a victim statement read out by police, the victim claimed Potter had threatened to kill her “if she stopped seeing him” and believed “he has murdered or been involved in murder”. These claims appeared to distress Potter, who was seen sniffing and wiping away tears in the docks and shaking his head. It was further submitted the pair had been in an on and off relationship for the past three years, with 10 other domestic violence incidents having been reported previously. Police told the court the victim lives “in fear” of Potter, often being “too scared” to go to authorities, leaving many incidents unreported. Potter’s duty lawyer submitted the man “absolutely denies” the claims, saying he thinks there was a “malicious purposes” behind the charges. It was also submitted Potter is waiting to enter a residential detox program to battle his drug problems. Magistrate Joanne Andretich granted the man bail, with strict orders he is not to come within 30km of the Bunbury Police Station or the victim and her child. She warned he might not be so lucky should be breach the FVRO again. “If you were to come back again with further charges. . . I think it’s very unlikely you’d get bail again,” she said. “I strongly advised not to go anywhere near (the victim).” He is due to reappear in Manjimup Court next month.