Man escapes jail term for violently assaulting girlfriend
A MAN who repeatedly punched his girlfriend and lunged at her with a knife was yesterday visibly distressed when learning he would not serve time behind bars.
Police were called to a Myall Ave address on October 2 after reports of a domestic incident.
The Warwick Magistrates Court yesterday heard officers were confronted by the woman, who had a bleeding hand and said her 39-year-old partner had run at her with a knife.
The man admitted becoming involved in a volatile dispute with the woman, during which he punched her four times in the stomach and three times in the back of the head.
Police prosecutor Ken Wiggan asked the court to put the man behind bars.
"This is quite a serious matter that could have ended in a serious tragedy," he said.
Defence counsel for the man told the court his client suffered from mental issues and the woman was arguing and fighting during the incident.
Magistrate Graham Lee scolded the man on his violent behaviour and warned him that were it not for his mental health issues, he would have been sentenced to actual time behind bars.
"I find physical violence abhorrent and disgusting, particularly a man on a woman," he said.
The man yesterday pleaded guilty to breaching a domestic violence order.
He was sentenced to three months jail, wholly suspended for a period of 12 months.
