Tradie Brendan Howe’s Bali holiday after his appalling act is an ‘atrocious’ failure of the court system

A trader showed ‘contempt and disrespect’ for the justice system when he flew to Bali for a holiday, despite being banned from traveling after being convicted of a four-year campaign of abuse against his wife.

So says leading victim advocate Howard Brown, who was furious when he read Daily Mail Australia’s exclusive report into construction company director Brendan Lionel Howe’s overseas holiday.

Howe, 37, pleaded guilty to the charge earlier this month including aggravated assault, common assault and property damage.

The ACT Supreme Court heard Howe once held his then wife against a wall when she was 34 weeks pregnant and shouted in front of their toddler: “I rule this house.” You should worship the damn ground I walk on. You’re a fucking bitch. You’re a mutt.’

‘If you and that little bastard inside you can’t see that I’m the boss and if I want to talk about something, I’m going to talk about it [it] and she will know it and you will know it.”

He also threatened to kill her if she left him.

Howe left court last week with a fully suspended sentence of seven months in prison, a one-year good behavior requirement, an $1,800 fine and 50 hours of community service.

But Howe then traveled to Bali two days after his conviction, in a blatant breach of his sentences, having been ordered to remain in or near the ACT for the duration of his good behavior bond.

Victim advocate Howard Brown called Howe’s sentence inadequate, saying: “Idiots like that will continue to get away with it” unless it is made very clear to perpetrators that they will go to jail if they break the rules.

“It sends such a horrific message,” said Brown, who has helped crime victims navigate the legal system for more than three decades after his friend was murdered when he was young.

Brown said, “Poor thing [victim]When she read her victim impact statement, it was clear how sad she was at that moment.

‘Where is the encouragement for other victims to come forward when we see perpetrators disrespecting the court’s decisions?

‘If we take tackling domestic violence seriously, the sentences the court imposes must also be serious.’

It is understood Howe traveled to Bali on other occasions between his initial arrest and conviction, and missed supervised visits with his toddler last week in favor of his overseas trip.

He declined to comment on the matter when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.

His construction company, Homes by Howe, which works on multi-million dollar projects around Canberra, appeared to be operating normally in his absence last week.

There were multiple construction sites surrounded by his company logos, tradies working in various locations and he was taking bookings for new clients.

In 2022, Governor General David Hurley had to apologize for a “spur of a happy moment” to have his photo taken with Howe at the end of a private renovation.

Mr Hurley said he did not intend for his photo or testimonial to be used in commercial advertisements for Homes by Howe, and stressed he did not receive any benefits.

During the recent sentencing, Judge Louise Taylor said the company had generated ‘significant income’ but since the breakdown of his relationship he had fallen into debt due to legal fees and child support.

His ex-wife cried and shook uncontrollably as she gave her victim impact statement last week, telling the court: “I was always the woman who said, ‘I will never be with a man who abuses me.’

‘When you pressed me against our bedroom door at 34 weeks pregnant, for [our daughter] – time stood still. I couldn’t believe it was happening, and that the man I loved, the father of my children, could actually kill me.

“I tolerated this behavior for so many years because I loved you so much and longed for our family unit. I never wanted this. I was also afraid of what you would do if I left. I was afraid you would follow through with your threats.”

The woman said Howe had continually blamed her for his abuse, saying she deserved it because he made the money and had anger issues, and told the court he never apologized to her.

She begged the court to hold Howe accountable for his actions and the way he ruined her sense of safety and security in the world.

Judge Taylor described Howe’s comments about his unborn child as “truly appalling”, acknowledged his wife’s trauma and found he showed no genuine remorse.

“He’s sad about himself,” she said.

“The perpetration of violence, usually by men against their female partners, is a common phenomenon in this jurisdiction and across the country.”

She said these types of crimes have “life-changing consequences” and that it is rare for a sentence imposed by a court in such a case to help victims simply move on and restore their lives.

However, she discovered that he was motivated to change and had good prospects for rehabilitation.

Howe will appear in the ACT Magistrates Court on June 24 for a new case, during which he will be cross-examined.