Man jailed for 'chilling' attack on girlfriend and animal cruelty against her dachshund in Orange house

The Central Western Daily has chosen not to identify the man to protect the identity of the victim.

The man has been in custody since he was arrested inside the house about two hours after the assault.

Magistrate David Day indicated that once his jail sentence has been served, the man could be extradited to his country of birth.

"Once the lady tries to protect the family dog she's beaten up," Mr Day said.

"These facts are chilling, they are some of the most horrific facts I've seen where there hasn't been grievous bodily harm or actual bodily harm.

"It's appalling behaviour."

According to police, the woman woke to the sound of her dog crying at 6.20am on August 19, 2021, and discovered the man had arrived home from work and had the dog by its neck.

He started throwing it around so she went to take hold of the dog and he threw it.

He then grabbed the woman by the neck and pushed her up against the kitchen wall and lifted her off the ground squeezing her neck hard enough to cause immediate pain. However, he disputed that in an interview with police saying he grabbed her by her shirt.

The woman attempted to get away by pushing out and he punched the wall and let go of her.

The dog defecated on itself out of fear so the victim picked it up and took it to the bathroom to clean it.

While she was in the bathroom the man told her she was a "piece of shit" and he hoped she died, then he hit the dog, grabbed it and threw it into the bathtub and turned the tap on.

He grabbed the victim again and pushed her against a wall before punching a hole through the bathroom wall into the toilet while calling her names.

When the victim picked the dog up again he said the dog was going to die and he went into the kitchen and got a knife. "Do you want me to f***ing do it? You made me do this," he said when he returned to the bathroom.

The victim protected the dog with her body and was pushed into a wall and he threw the knife at a wall. She cowered on the floor asking him to leave her along and escaped the house and called for help as soon as he left the room.

Police were called and the dog was taken to a vet for x-rays for possible fractures but the outcome was not disclosed to the court.

Mr Day sentenced the man to 12 months in full-time jail with a six-month non-parole period for intimidation, which he described as "absolutely horrific" and domestic violence common assault.

"The effect on her must have been terrifying," Mr Day said.

He also gave the man a concurrent 18-month jail term with a six month's non-parole for threatening to kill the dog with the knife.

The sentences were back-dated to August 19 and he could be eligible for parole on February 18, 2022.

Mr Day took into account the man's mental health conditions, as well as the onerous conditions he faces in jail due to COVID-19.

Mr Day also gave the man a 12-month Community Corrections Order for animal cruelty and a three-year CCO for damaging the bathroom wall.

A five-year Apprehended Violence Order was also put in place.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence in the local area, help is available by calling 1300 DV Help on 1300 384 357.

Counselling for domestic violence or rape is also available by calling 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, or visiting www.1800RESPECT.org.au.

MensLine Australia offers free, professional 24/7 telephone counselling support for men with concerns about mental health, anger management, family violence (using and experiencing), addiction, relationship, stress and wellbeing.

In an emergency, call 000.

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