A man who grabbed her partner by the hair and threw her to the floor while their five young children were watching has appeared at court.
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The man, who The Courier has chosen not to name to protect the victim's identity, failed to answer bail and engage with community corrections orders since the 2018 offence.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Steve Repac said the accused and the victim had been in a relationship for 13 years and had five children together.
The court heard the accused and the victim got into an argument in July 2017 when the accused began throwing items and punched holes in the wall before grabbing his partner by the hair and throwing her to the floor.
All five children were in the room at the time.
Senior Constable Repac said the accused failed to appear at court and had failed to engage with community corrections orders since the offending.
Imagine what that would have been like for the children.
- Magistrate Noreen Toohey
Defence lawyer Patrick Crowle said his client was appalled and alarmed by his conduct.
He said there had been no further instances of family violence, the pair had restored their relationship and had a sixth child together.
Mr Crowle said the family were required to undergo family counselling after the incident, so there had been measures taken to ensure an incident like this does not happen again.
He said his client failed to appear at court and engage in the community corrections orders because he was 'petrified' of being remanded into custody, until he handed himself into police on Wednesday night.
Magistrate Noreen Toohey said the man had been given a chance on court orders in the past, which he had breached, and questioned why she should give him another chance.
Mr Crowle said the man had made 'great positive progress' with his partner and young family and there had been no further offending.
"I would urge Your Honour to give him a further chance to complete a non-custodial disposition," he said.
"Imprisonment is to be a sentence of last resort."
Ms Toohey said she was 'ever hopeful' and decided to give him another chance to complete a community corrections order.
"I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt today, but if you don't comply with this order you won't get another chance," she said.
"All five children were present, this is disgraceful behaviour. Imagine what that would have been like for the children.
"This is about you learning skills to change your behaviour."
The man was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order, with requirements he undergo supervision, assessment and treatment for drug use and offending behaviour programs.
He will return to court in October for judicial monitoring.
Help is available, call 1800 RESPECT.
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