A knife-wielding man chased his ex-girlfriend into a McDonald’s where he viciously punched her, dragged her by the hair and stole her phone and keys while horrified customers watched on.
Seta Ratucadre’s victim has agreed for the shocking CCTV footage of her assault to be released by a court after the 38-year-old was jailed for a minimum of four-and-a-half-years.
Ratucadre confronted his ex-girlfriend outside the McDonald’s in Minchinbury, in Sydney’s west, on January 15 last year when he then violently attacked her.
The woman attempted to push Ratucadre away and run into the fast food restaurant but he chased after her while armed with a 20cm knife.
Three girls were sitting nearby as they watched on in horror as Ratucadre grabbed his victim and repeatedly punched her in the head.
As the woman attempted to fight off her attacker, he dragged her across the floor, slicing her hand as she tried to grab his knife.
Ratucadre then stole the woman’s phone and keys that fell on the floor during the struggle and as she tried to get them back he ripped off her jumper before fleeing the premises.
The woman was left with head, neck, arm and leg injuries, including having some of her hair pulled out and a scalp laceration from being dragged across the tiled floor.
Seta Ratucadre, 38, is shown attacking his ex-partner while carrying a knife in a western Sydney McDonald’s
Ratucadre was convicted of charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, using a carriage service to threaten to kill, breaching an apprehended violence order, and stalking.
The court heard he had a history of violence.
Judge Andrew Colefax said that Ratucadre bringing the knife showed the attack was not spontaneous or opportunistic.
‘Rather it’s indicative of a level of premeditation,’ Judge Colefax said, according to a report in the Blue Mountains Gazette.
The court heard Fiji-born Ratucadre had already breached an AVO prior to the attack by phoning the woman and threatening to ‘slit’ her throat, before making more death threats at McDonald’s.
Ratucadre had used cannabis, heroin, cocaine, ice and alcohol since turning to drugs at age 13 after his father’s death, the court was told.
A psychologist diagnosed Ratucadre with substance abuse, anxiety and depression disorders.
The court was told Ratucadre arrived at the McDonald’s smelling of alcohol.
‘You said to her ”I want to slit your throat, shut the f*** up, I want to slit your throat”,’ Judge Colefax told Ratucadre.
The woman’s deep cuts to her hands needed surgery and she was unlikely to regain full function, the court heard.
With time served, Ratucadre will be eligible for parole on July 15, 2027.
Upon release, Ratucadre will be subject to an apprehended domestic violence order on behalf of the victim, who is a mother-of-two, for the next 14 years.
Ratucadre was sentenced to a minimum of four-and-a-half-years behind bars for the brutal attack
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