A MAN who spat on his ex-partner's face and left her in severe pain for days after grabbing her by the throat has been spared jail.
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Curtis McDermott, 25, of Ashmont, appeared in Wagga Local Court on Monday after pleading guilty to one count of common assault and was sentenced to an eight-month intensive corrections order instead.
The court heard he also threatened to use a kitchen knife.
Court documents state that on April 24 at Gobbagombalin, McDermott went to the victim's house where he assaulted her and placed his hand on her mouth so she could not speak or scream.
She suffered soreness around the jaw for two days afterwards.
During the incident, he told her he was intending to use the knife on whoever was found at the residence.
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In a police interview after he was arrested, McDermott said he had grabbed the knife after he had seen, from outside the house, the victim and another one of her ex-partners together inside.
In court on Monday, defence solicitor Zac Tankard said that while "there is never a sufficient excuse for this type of conduct,'' he argued for leniency based on his client's early guilty plea, youth and limited criminal record.
"There does appear to be a link between the offending and the mental conditions he suffers from," Mr Tankard said.
"It does not make him a vehicle for general deterrence."
However, magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim said the assault had numerous concerning aspects, including grabbing the victim's throat.
"And spitting at someone's face intending to degrade [them]," Mr Abdul-Karim said.
"There's no place for violence in our community and there's no place certainly for violence in a domestic setting in the family home."
There's no place certainly for violence in a domestic setting in the family home.
- Magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim
Mr Abdul-Karim said he accepted McDermott's remorse, limited criminal record, and rehabilitation already undertaken.
The police prosecutor chose not to be heard during the sentencing.
McDermott will also conduct 120 hours of community service work as part of his sentence.