A man who pinched his wife and sent her a text message blaming her for his unhappiness has been convicted of assault and intimidation in Orange Local Court.
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The man, who cannot be named to protect the victim, claimed he committed the violence because his wife would not seek treatment for an autoimmune disorder affecting her appearance.
Magistrate Jacqueline Trad convicted the man for intimidation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault, giving him a 15-month community correction order for each offence.
"The problem with domestic violence is it occurs in the home, there's often no one else around and it fosters a fear," Ms Trad said.
The problem with domestic violence is it occurs in the home, there's often no one else around and it fosters a fear.
- Magistrate Jacqueline Trad
"At the end of the day there's no excuse."
According to police, the man sent a text on one occasion in March, saying his life was terrible because of her.
The victim also reported that the man isolated her and pinched her on the stomach and thighs causing bruising, and when she slammed a door he said "you are not supposed to do that, you are not supposed to be angry".
On another occasion, he threw an apple at the woman's head and solicitor Justine Ringbauer said the man "was concerned she wiped the apple with a dirty cloth and it was unclean".
Ms Ringbauer said the man did not dispute the police facts except one element, which said he punched his son in the shoulder during an argument with the woman.
"He says he pushed his son, he had no intention to assault his son," she said.
"He's remorseful beyond belief, he misses his family, he thought he was caring for them, he thought he was looking after them but now knows he was wrong."
Ms Trad she also issued an apprehended domestic violence order.
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