A Tolland man will spend more than two years behind bars after assaulting two women and throwing another man onto a concrete path as he tried to help them.
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The 28-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was due to face trial in Wagga District Court but pleaded guilty to three charges related to the incident.
The charges included common assault, aggravated break and enter and commit a serious indictable offence, and recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm.
On April 22, 2020, the man woke his partner, who was sleeping in his bed and told her to leave.
An argument ensued and when the woman asked why she had to leave, the man told her she didn't need an explanation.
As the women tried to leave via the front door, the man hit her from behind and she ran to a friend's unit downstairs.
The following day, the man knocked on the door of the friend's unit, where two guests were present at the time, and was told to leave.
The three women then heard loud bangs, after which the man broke through the front door and entered the unit, prompting one woman to say "please leave! We don't need this".
The man assaulted two of the women, telling one of them "keep out of my business, or I'll seriously hurt you ... you don't know how bad I can hurt you. Do you understand".
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He also threw a 40-year-old man, who was trying to help the women, onto a concrete path.
The older man suffered head injuries and was taken to Wagga Base Hospital before being flown to Canberra Hospital.
Judge Gordon Lerve handed down his sentencing on Friday.
Judge Lerve noted a medical report explained the offender had been diagnosed with schizophrenia in his early 20s and suffered from hallucinations and delusions when unmedicated.
The report also stated the man believed he had paranoid delusions that his partner was cheating on him.
"I am of the opinion that the matter falls marginally below the mid-range of seriousness," Judge Lerve said.
"In respect of all the offending, I accept it was unplanned.
"I also agree with the counsel for the offender that the mental health of the offender, while not excusing the conduct, certainly gives an explanation for the offender's actions."
Judge Lerve said the offender was not entitled to his leniency due to his record but would receive a 10 per cent discount for his guilty pleas.
The man was sentenced to four years and three months' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of two years and six months.
The sentence was backdated to begin on December 25, 2020, and he will be eligible for release on June 24, 2023.
Judge Lerve said his decision indicated a finding of special circumstances, including the need for extensive supervision to ensure the man received treatment and counselling.
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