Ms Rowe, a former police officer, told the court last week that she was haunted by the anger she saw in Lovett’s eyes, plagued by flashbacks and anxiety, and continued to live with emotional trauma.
She recalled that she “fell head over heels” for Lovett when they met, but that “it did not take long for the fairy tale to turn into a horror story”.
“He broke me in every way as he took off his mask and revealed his true self … he promised me the world and delivered me nothing. Nothing like torture and heartache,” she said.
During Lovett’s campaign of violence, Ms. Rowe lived in constant fear, used makeup to cover up bruises and was embarrassed because it was her role as a police officer to work with victims of domestic violence.
“It showed me that domestic violence does not discriminate, but I was stuck in a cycle and I could not get out,” the woman said in her victim impact.
On Thursday, the magistrate said: “This was appalling, ongoing, oppressive physical violence.”
“It was controlled and manipulative behavior. This was serious and sustained domestic violence.
“It was worrying that it would escalate over time. This domestic violence can not be tolerated in our society.”
Lovett pleaded guilty to 24 counts, including multiple counts of assassination.
His crimes also include Ms. Rowe breaking her phone, beating her and throwing beer at her over four weeks in 2020.
After a quarrel in January last year, he sent her the message: “I hope you, your mother and your nan die, you c —.” The woman’s grandmother was ill at the time.
Then in April last year, he spat on the woman in the face, poured beer over her and beat her while she was on the floor. He spat at her again when she was drunk after attending the Essendon-Collingwood game on Anzac Day.
This was frightening, ongoing, oppressive physical violence.
Magistrate Jason Ong
Defense attorney David Grace, QC, said on Thursday that Lovett abused alcohol and cocaine, but said the relationship with Ms. Rowe was “toxic” and much of the violence developed from the jealousy of “both parties.” were shown.
Mr Ong challenged the lawyer to the point and said of Lovett: “He is the one who reacted the way he did.”
Mr Grace said his client had calmed down, apologized to his former partner and stopped using alcohol or drugs.
But prosecutor Andrew Sprague presented Lovett’s reassurance and views were limited and that while in custody he engaged in “victim guilt” and minimized his actions.
Lovett was trafficked to St Kilda in 2010, but was dismissed by the Saints on charges of rape. The footballer was released on charges in a 2011 county court lawsuit in 2011.
In the years that followed, Mr Grace said, Lovett was a “nomadic” footballer who played with clubs across the country, and in recent years worked on construction projects on railway projects.
The four-year-old father now wants to work again and continue to “make efforts to ensure that he no longer behaves like that,” his lawyer said.
Lovett was previously punished for attacking another former partner by pushing her. He was found to be a suitable candidate for a correction order, even though he was considered a high risk to return, the court heard.
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