A man who punched his partner and fought with police was sentenced to 10 months in jail.
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Raymond Muir was drinking at his home in Mount Pleasant in October last year, when he began assaulting his partner by punching her to the head, the Ballarat Magistrates' Court was told.
She attempted to shield herself and eventually fled to a neighbour's house, where the police were phoned.
Muir told her to go back to the house, after he smashed glasses and punched holes in the wall.
Police arrived, and after swearing at them, he told his partner to stay sitting in the lounge room.
She eventually got up to use the bathroom, and spoke to police from a bedroom window.
Police then entered the house, and Muir began swinging punches, connecting two.
The officer received scrapes, torn clothes, and damaged equipment.
Officers then subdued Muir and arrested him - the incident was captured on body-worn cameras.
The victim said she had also been punched in the head twice in the previous week by Muir while he was drinking.
Muir was on a community corrections order at the time, and has been on remand since he was arrested.
His defence lawyer noted he had spent 257 days in pre-sentence detention, and any mental health treatment plans had not had time to take effect.
"He has been painting for employees and other inmates, it has had a calming and positive protective factor," he told the court.
He also noted Muir's difficult background, and early plea of guilty.
"(Pre-sentence detention) of 8.5 months is not warranted in the circumstances," he said.
However, Magistrate Ron Saines said Muir had a long history of violent offending and alcohol abuse.
"There's been a number of sentences in the past two years for domestic violence and assaulting police," he said.
"In context of that history ... no other sentence other than prison is appropriate."
Muir was convicted and sentenced to 10 months in prison for the charges, inclusive of the 257 days already spent in prison.
"Grow your painting and other artistic opportunities wherever you may be, but whether you use that for the better or you go back to alcohol abuse and violence is your decision," Mr Saines warned.
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