A Mandurah man who attacked his long-time partner and mother of his four children escaped an immediate prison term after appearing in court on Tuesday.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his partner and children, appeared via video in Mandurah Magistrates Court from Casuarina Prison, where he has been held since December 1.
He pleaded guilty to aggravated common assault and three breaches of bail.
The court heard the man was at a Dudley Park address on November 27, 2016, when he became involved in a verbal argument with his partner.
The argument turned violent, with the man grabbing the woman by her throat and lifting her off the ground, before throwing her on to a bed and jumping on top of her.
The man then punched the woman, leaving her with bruises and soreness.
The attack was witnessed by the couple’s four children.
Police attended and arrested the man who was placed on protective bail conditions.
These were breached three times over the next three days, with the woman waking twice to find the man had gained entry to the house in which she was staying.
Counsel for the man said her client had been on pre-sentence order at the time of the offending and had been coming off methamphetamine.
The lawyer said the man and his partner had been together for 14 years, with the woman remaining supportive of the man by visiting him in prison.
The prosecutor referred to the assault as “serious”, and said it was “not a good example to children”.
Magistrate Anne Longden said it was “extremely serious” and would have been “frightening for your children”.
The man was sentenced to a nine-month prison term, suspended for 12 months.
He was also placed on a community-based order for 12 months with program and supervision requirements.
