A Collie man has been handed a 12 month community-based order after dobbing himself into police for assaulting his partner.
The 36-year-old man pleaded guilty in the Collie Magistrates Court to one charge of assault occasioning bodily harm in circumstances of aggravation on Wednesday, August 22.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Greg Ward told the court the man had been driving home with his partner of nine years at approximately 1pm on August 12, when they got into an argument.
He said the argument had continued once they arrived home and the man had told police he had slapped the victim once to the face so she would stop yelling.
Sergeant Ward said when the man saw his partner had a black eye the next morning, he felt so guilty that he went to the police station and handed himself into police.
Lawyer Michelle Huber told the court the man had taken meth the day before the incident, but he didn’t feel like he was affected by it at the time.
Magistrate Evan Shackleton said the man’s decision to report the crime to police and hand himself in showed he was remorseful for his actions as he ‘probably wouldn’t have been here’ in court otherwise.
However Mr Shackleton said the 36-year-old had two previous convictions for assault, including one on his partner in 2010 and one on another man in 2011.
Taking into account the fact he had pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity, Mr Shackleton imposed a 12 month community-based order with a program component.
Mr Shackleton also warned that a ‘third time would be too much’ and he would attract a significant punishment if he assaulted his partner again.
