Couples who fight, especially when children are around, got a short, sharp lecture in Tauranga District Court today.
Judge Paul Geoghegan dealt with several cases of domestic violence that occurred over the holiday season, including on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Men attacking their partners was "cowardly, bullying, despicable behaviour," made worse when it was in sight or hearing of their kids, he said.
"We see too much of it."
Alcohol was often at the core of the offending. Even when youngsters were in another room they usually heard what was going on.
"You can either limit your child's potential or enhance it," Judge Geoghegan said.
He told Stephen Kawhira Roberts, an Auckland labourer who admitted assaulting his partner of seven years on Christmas Day at a family gathering at Omokoroa: "You have clearly got problems with anger and alcohol."
The 27-year-old father of three was very intoxicated, said prosecutor David Pawson.
An argument over car keys escalated into violence in which his partner's t-shirt was ripped off and he punched her face about five times, making her nose bleed.
Judge Geoghegan sentenced him to 150 hours community work and nine months supervision, during which he must undertake anger management and alcohol and drug counselling.
Te Puke slaughterman Mark Lloyd pleaded guilty to assault with intent to injure and was bailed until March 16 for sentencing.
The 45-year-old was moderately intoxicated at 5am on January l when he grabbed his partner around the neck, said Mr Pawson.
Lloyd squeezed so hard the woman could not breathe. She fled to the children's room, where he again strangled, shook, slapped and yelled abuse at her.
On the night of January 18, beneficiary Carl George Webber, 27, was upset at the time it had taken his partner to pick up her two children from their father, the court heard.
He pushed her around and, frightened, she went to get the couple's six-week-old baby and leave.
Webber grabbed her by the throat making breathing difficult and soon after he again grabbed her and forced her onto the bonnet but she escaped and ran to a service station for help.
An evidential test showed the defendant had 672 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.
He was sentenced to 150 hours community work for assault and nine months supervision, to include anger management and drug and alcohol courses.
The judge imposed an extra 70 hours community work for drink driving, plus nine months disqualification.
