A man charged over a 2023 domestic violence incident that left his former partner with a traumatic brain injury has been handed a four-year prison sentence.

Piyarad Lasuai, 31, pleaded guilty to one count each of common assault, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, deprivation of liberty and grievous bodily harm. 

On Monday, the Queensland District Court at Southport heard Lasuai took his former partner’s car keys from her and forced her into her car after she travelled to his home to collect her belongings in September 2023.

The court heard the pair had been in a relationship for about eight years, but it had broken down about six months before the incident.

Judge Katarina Prskalo heard Lasuai was holding on to his former partner’s leg as he drove her car away from his home, but when he let go to change gears, she opened the car door and jumped from the moving vehicle.

Lasuai stopped the car and saw his former partner injured and bleeding on the road so took her to Gold Coast University Hospital.

The court heard she was put into an induced coma within 30 minutes of arrival and was later diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury.

She remained in hospital for two months and, despite undergoing two surgeries, now suffers loss of vision and facial scarring because of the incident.

Lasuai was born and raised in Thailand and moved to Australia on a student visa in 2016, before becoming an Australian citizen in 2022.

The court heard Lasuai’s father had died from a brain tumour in 2020 and his mother had died during heart surgery in 2023.

He had no criminal history and, the court heard, his actions on September 18 were out of character.

In sentencing, Judge Prskalo said the deaths of Lasuai’s parents had likely impacted him prior to the incident with his former partner, but that did not excuse his actions.

Judge Prskalo said while Lasuai was criminally responsible for the injuries his actions caused his former partner, it was important to note that he did not physically cause them.

“It remains relevant that you did not directly use force by the infliction of an intentional blow or the infliction of physical violence,” she said.

“You are criminally responsible for causing the injuries inflicted because your conduct significantly contributed to her jumping from the moving car.”

Judge Prskalo considered Lasuai’s early guilty plea and accepted his remorse for his actions.

“I accept the submission of your counsel that since the offences you have been racked with guilt and anguish and have repeatedly expressed your sorrow and remorse to family members,” she said.

Judge Prskalo handed Lasuai a sentence of four years’ imprisonment, to be wholly suspended after eight months.