A man in his 30s is accused of forcing his then-partner to consume dextroamphetamine, a medication used to treat ADHD. Photo: Pharmacy Facebook.
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to alleged family violence.
A court has granted bail to a man who has spent more than two months behind bars and is accused of endangering a vulnerable woman’s life by repeatedly forcing her to consume medications.
An ACT Policing spokesperson previously alleged the man, aged in his 30s but not named to avoid identifying the woman, coerced his then-partner into consuming drugs on three separate occasions between April and July 2025, despite her repeatedly declining.
The ACT Magistrates Court heard it is alleged these drugs were dextroamphetamine, which is a medication prescribed by doctors to treat ADHD and narcolepsy.
The woman lives with the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis (MS) and had been told by a doctor that excessive amounts of substances could result in organ failure for a person with this illness, the court heard.
Prosecutors were seeking an expert report on whether dextroamphetamine could cause organ failure for people with MS.
But in addition to these allegations, the man was also accused of acting violently towards the woman by slapping her face, boxing her hands away, throwing her keys on the floor and punching a wall and oven.
She went to police in November 2025 and the man was arrested that month, then spent 70 days in custody before applying for bail for the second time on Tuesday (13 January).
The court heard the woman feared for her life and safety if he was granted bail and she claimed the alleged offending had both mental and physical impacts on her.
But when it came to the allegations the man forced her to consume substances, his lawyer, Peter Woodhouse from CODA Criminal Law, said “the prosecution can’t prove those charges”.
Mr Woodhouse said there was no evidence any substance allegedly administered to the woman was an overpowering drug, stupefying substance or poison, nor that the substances would be likely to endanger her life or cause grievous bodily harm.
Also, so far, there was no evidence any substance had been tested, nor of any testing of the woman’s blood or hair, he said.
Mr Wooodhouse said his client was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and the prosecutor, who opposed bail, said it was clear the man was reluctant to seek mental health engagement.
Magistrate Glenn Theakston said his main concern was the allegations the man forced the woman to take substances, but the other allegations involved relatively minor claims of violence.
He said the woman was particularly vulnerable, including due to her illness and how her response to the alleged offending had been significant and physical.
However, he was satisfied the alleged risks could be mitigated by restrictions and granted bail on conditions including the man live in Canberra, reside under a curfew, not use illegal drugs and undergo drug testing.
The man has entered not guilty pleas to three counts of administering a drug dangerous to a person, two counts of assault and two counts of property damage.
The matter was adjourned to March.
If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT on 02 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call triple zero.
If you have been affected by sexual violence, or someone you know has, you can report it to police by attending a police station or phoning 131 444.
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