A TARCUTTA man has pleaded guilty to using an axe to terrorise a woman multiple times before punching her in the face during a 14-hour ordeal.
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Johnny Payne, 46, appeared via videolink in Wagga Local Court on Tuesday when he pleaded guilty to eight charges, including two counts each of intimidation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He also pleaded guilty to being armed with the intention to commit an indictable offence and two counts of breaching an apprehended-violence order.
He pleaded not guilty to one count of recklessly destroying property.
In relation to the charges to which Payne pleaded guilty, court documents state that he committed them between 12am and 2pm on October 5 at the victim's house in Ashmont.
About midnight, Payne and the victim, who had been in a six-year relationship, started arguing at her house before he grabbed a plastic cricket bat and fishing rod to hit her.
One strike left a 20cm laceration and burning pain to her chest.
He swung a metal rod at her but missed before throwing an axe that landed on the steps next to her.
The victim, out of fear, used a broom to hit Payne, who yelled "I will kill you".
She then drove to two other people's house and told them "Johnny has assaulted me"
About one hour later, one of the witnesses and the victim went back to her house because she was scared Payne, who had keys to her house, may have damaged it.
When they arrived, Paye swung the axe at the victim five times, forcing her to walk backwards for safety. He then punched her in the jaw.
After the victim dropped the witness back home, she went back to her place and barricaded herself inside from Payne.
About 11am on the same day, Payne was swinging the axe on the ride-on mower at the victim's house.
She was watching him and he kept saying "give me back my weed and my bong and I will give you your keys".
About two hours later, police arrived and heard a smashing sound from the backyard. They saw Payne with the axe in his hands and ordered him drop the axe, which he did.
They then arrested him then took him to Wagga Police Station.
Police also obtained statements from the witnesses and victim, who appeared to be in shock and said "I'm very scared of him"
In court on Tuesday, Payne appeared briefly when magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim set January 14 for sentencing and to mention the charge to which Payne pleaded not guilty.
An application to vary an AVO will also be mentioned.
