Repeat offender loses freedom, home, and family to drug and alcohol use

David James Johnson, 45, faces at least six months jail for assaulting his former partner. The Wangaratta man has battled ice and alcohol addiction for decades.

Why it mattersThe case shows how addiction can trap repeat offenders in cycles of violence and jail. It raises questions about whether custody alone can break those cycles.

AustraliaA local Wangaratta court case showing the link between ice use and family violence, a pattern Victoria and Australian police identify as a major community concern.

✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 5 d ago