‘Controlling, jealous’ man allegedly ‘kicked, stomped on, raped’ woman at Star hotel in Sydney

A jealous, domineering man from northern New South Wales allegedly raped, strangled, beat and kicked a woman three times over a two-year period, including at a five-star hotel in Sydney.

Joel Nathan Fitzpatrick Burtt, 22, has pleaded not guilty to a host of charges of physical and sexual abuse involving the woman, whose name cannot be released.

As his trial began on Tuesday before 14 jurors at Sydney’s Downing Centre court, prosecutor Melanie O’Connell described the Suffolk Park man as controlling and jealous.

In October 2020, while the couple were driving in a car through Cronulla, the woman received a Snapchat message from another man

When Fitzpatrick Burtt saw this, he grabbed her phone, jumped out of the car and ran away.

He messaged the other man, pretending to be the woman, and arranged to meet him in Cronulla, where an altercation ensued, the jury was told.

Later that day, the 22-year-old allegedly grabbed the woman by the hair and forced her to drive him to a family friend.

On the way he headbutted her after hearing something he didn’t like, Ms O’Connell said.

That night in the bedroom, he allegedly put his hands around her neck and squeezed her.

“He had his other hand over her mouth and … she couldn’t breathe,” Ms O’Connell said.

Fitzpatrick Burtt listened to the defendant’s arguments from the dock, supported by family members in court.

Ms O’Connell continued: ‘The 22-year-old man is alleged to have strangled the woman in October 2021 as they lay in the bedroom of his home in Suffolk Park.

He became angry because the woman was on her phone while he was trying to sleep, the jury heard.

A year later, he is accused of raping and repeatedly assaulting the woman on a Saturday night in a hotel room at the Star Grand after the two attended a birthday party together.

The complainant is expected to tell the court that she has returned to pick up something before leaving for another party.

While inside, Fitzpatrick Burtt allegedly grabbed the plaintiff by the neck and forced her to the ground.

After she refused his request for sex, he punched her on the side of the head and raped her, Ms O’Connell said.

After sexually assaulting her multiple times, he kicked the woman in the face when she began to cry, poured ice on her as she lay on the ground and stamped on her, the jury heard.

She then left the hotel room before speaking to hotel security and police.

A nurse specialising in sexual abuse who examines the woman the next day is expected to give evidence about her bruises and injuries.

According to lawyer Peter Skinner, his client denies that the alleged incidents in Cronulla and Suffolk Park ever happened.

He claimed the sex at the Star Hotel was consensual, but says some of the acts alleged by the prosecutor and the public prosecutor did not occur at all.

Fitzpatrick Burtt admits hitting the woman and causing her actual bodily harm, but says it happened late in the evening, after an argument.

“That happened at the end of a pretty bad sex session,” Skinner said.

“He lost his temper and hit her.”

The assault did not occur before intercourse to overpower the plaintiff, as prosecutors alleged, Mr Skinner said.

Fitzpatrick Burtt also denies kicking or punching the woman.

As the 21-year-old prosecutor testified via audio-visual link on Tuesday afternoon, Fitzpatrick Burtt burst into tears and grabbed tissues from a nearby box.

The trial continues on Wednesday.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

Lifeline 13 11 14