A magistrate has denounced a man's choice to use violence because he said his partner 'pushed him to boiling point'.
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"There is nothing wrong with being angry or being in disagreement with people," Magistrate Ron Saines said.
"What is very wrong is to use that disagreement as a way to justify a use of violence."
Accused man Kenneth Allen pleaded guilty at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Tuesday to one charge of assault.
Police lawyer Jenna Bridges said Allen returned home from work in the afternoon of August 24, 2020 and complained to the victim about his parents not being able to see their children.
This is another case of family disputes turning into acts of violence by men while there are children in the house.
- Magistrate Ron Saines
The court heard Allen became increasingly angry and upset and threw a clothes airer across the room, landing at the victim's feet.
Allen grabbed the victim by the arms and pushed her against the television before swinging her around, causing her to fall on the couch.
The victim collected the children and fled from the house while Allen continued yelling at her.
The victim's sister called police and they later found and arrested Allen at a Beaufort home.
The victim suffered bruising on her arms.
Ms Bridges said Allen made full admissions to the offending and said she 'pushed him to boiling point'.
He told police he 'flipped it' and he was 'not proud of it'.
Defence lawyer David Tamanika said Allen had voluntarily engaged with two behaviour change programs through Child and Family Services Ballarat in late 2020.
He said Allen was employed and living with his parents and will be required to complete further programs and engagement with services to reconnect with his children.
"He took proper acknowledgement of his issues relatively quickly," Mr Tamanika said.
The court heard Allen had not seen his children since the incident.
Mr Saines said the offending was serious.
"The widespread problem of family violence is illustrated here," he said.
"This is another case of family disputes turning into acts of violence by men while there are children in the house."
Mr Saines noted Allen's comment to police that his wife 'pushed him to breaking point'.
"The courts in Victoria see things entirely differently. You made a choice at boiling point to use violence. It is the choice of violence that is to be condemned," he said.
"There is always a way to deal with disagreements without violence."
Mr Saines said the presence of children was a serious aggravating factor.
Allen was convicted and sentenced to a 12-month good behaviour bond and ordered to pay $800 to the Ballarat Court Fund.
Mr Saines said he would normally have imposed a community corrections order with education and treatment but Allen had already completed that of his own accord.
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