A magistrate has slammed Orange's high rates of domestic violence saying he's "shocked" by the number of cases that come before Orange Local Court.
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Magistrate David Day said while he was sentencing a man on Wednesday that there are higher rates of domestic violence here than the state average.
He said the rates are high across the Central West, North West and Western NSW and on every second Thursday the Orange Local Court sittings are dedicated to domestic violence matters.
"I was quite surprised when I came here having been on the Central Coast and Newcastle where domestic violence is rampant," Mr Day said.
"Coming here it is quite shocking."
Orange Local Court hears domestic violence cases on any sitting day, and on Wednesday six people were to be sentenced on domestic violence charges ranging from contact breaches of apprehended domestic violence orders, through to assault.
Among those facing the court was a man who was sentenced for reckless grievous bodily harm.
The court heard the man pushed his step-father through a window causing lacerations and the loss of an eye.
"The lady is entitled to feel safe in the home."
- Magistrate David Day
"It's not malicious, if it was malicious I would have a starting tariff of about 15 months [jail], it's reckless with serious injury," Mr Day said.
He gave the man a community-based custody by way of a 12-month intensive correction order and 80 hours of community service.
In another matter, a 29-year-old man was also given a 12-month ICO.
Mr Day said the man pushed his partner into a pantry door causing the door hinges to break and the woman to fall on the floor.
"He took advantage of her position and he kicked her," Mr Day said.
"The lady is entitled to feel safe in the home."
In addition to the ICO, he gave the man 50 hours of community service for the assault, and he gave him a two-year community correction order for damaging the pantry door.
Another man was sentenced for pushing a woman, and damaging a window and electricity box on separate days.
The court heard there was a relationship breakdown and the man's young son had run to the man for a cuddle but was stopped by others present before the assault.
Mr Day gave him two seven-month ICOs with conditioned he participate in rehabilitation and treatment, he is to abstain from alcohol for three months and abstain from drugs.
Mr Day also gave the man a two-year CCO and he was ordered to pay $2770.76 compensation for the property damage.
Anyone who breaches their ICO could serve the remainder of their term in jail.
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