A Ballan man accused of bashing his partner, causing her nose to break, in front of their two children has been released on bail with strict conditions.
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The 32-year-old tradesman, who cannot be named because that could identify the alleged complainant, appeared in the dock of the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Thursday shortly after he was arrested at the police station.
Police allege the accused assaulted his partner after a verbal argument over infidelity on January 31 at their family home while their children, aged two and four, were present.
The police informant said the accused pushed the woman towards a wall, she ran to the backyard and he chased her and punched her to the side of her abdomen.
He said she fell and her head hit floor tiles and the accused jumped on and headbutting her. She told the accused, "I knew you were the domestic type," which angered him further.
The court was told the woman picked up a knife and the accused allegedly ran at her and took it from her. The woman tripped and hit her head on the accused's knee, causing an injury to her nose.
The accused left the house, falsely telling his partner he would hand himself into police.
Two police officers attended the house and took pictures of the woman. She was taken to a Ballarat hospital with a broken and bloodied nose, concussion and bruising to her body.
The man allegedly telephoned his partner numerous times after the incident, which police believe was to get her to change her statement.
The incident came after another at Christmas when the man allegedly threw a Jim Beam can at his partner, causing a black eye.
The police informant said the accused was on bail for allegedly bashing and robbing a taxi driver, including biting him on the arm, while he was intoxicated in Geelong on December 20.
Police opposed bail because they were concerned the accused would continue to commit offences while on bail. They said there were no bail conditions that could reduce the risk.
Defence lawyer Melanie Rodolphus said there were compelling reasons why her client should be bailed.
She said the man was employed, he would experience hardship if remanded because he paid the mortgage on the family home and he had no family violence record.
Ms Rodolphus said the alleged victim had made a second "watered down" statement, which made the prosecution case weak.
Magistrate Barry Schultz released the accused on strict bail conditions, including not to drink alcohol and report to police three times a week. He said he bailed the man because of his ties to the jurisdiction.
He was bailed to appear at the Bacchus Marsh Magistrates Court on April 17.
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