A Tasmanian man who repeatedly assaulted his partner over two years, including while she was heavily pregnant and in front of young children, has been jailed.
Samuel Bradley Poke, 33, was sentenced in the Supreme Court last week after pleading guilty to persistent family violence.
He also admitted 18 counts of breaching a family violence order, three common assaults and one count of destroying property.
The offending took place between July 2020 and July 2022 against his then-partner, with whom he shared a child.
Justice Tamara Jago said the violence was sustained and at times extreme.
It included punching, two strangulation incidents that left the woman struggling to breathe and threats made with knives and scissors.
Poke repeatedly threatened to kill her.
On one occasion he grabbed the woman around her pregnant stomach when she was 39 weeks along. The pregnancy was high-risk.
Much of the violence happened in front of her three young children, one of whom she shared with Poke.
At times, Poke held the couple’s baby while assaulting his mother.
“Your behaviour towards the complainant was nothing short of disgraceful,” Justice Jago said.
“Not only did you cause her physical pain and harm, but you treated her in a degrading and humiliating manner.”
She found his moral culpability was “most high”.
The court heard Poke had since stopped using alcohol and methamphetamine, undertaken counselling and been diagnosed with adult ADHD. He had not reoffended in nearly four years.
The woman has resumed a relationship with Poke and asked the court not to jail him.
But Justice Jago said the need to deter and condemn family violence outweighed the woman’s forgiveness.
Poke was sentenced to five years and six months in prison. The final 18 months were suspended, meaning he won’t have to serve that part unless he reoffends.
He must serve half of the remaining four years before he can apply for parole.
Support for those experiencing family violence is available through 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
