Damian Triance, 34, of Heywood-Woolsthorpe Road, Willatook, was arrested by police last weekend hiding in the rocks at Port Fairy’s South Beach. 

On Monday the Warrnambool Magistrates Court heard that on August 13 this year Triance punched his partner just days after being issued with a family violence intervention order. 

He pleaded guilty to recklessly caused injury, breaching the order and criminal damage. 

Police prosecutor Sergeant Sandra Skilton said the accused and the victim had been drinking alcohol and taking diazepam medication at a friend’s house when an argument broke out. 

“The accused pushed the victim to the ground and forced her into a chair,” Sergeant Skilton said. 

The two left the address and began walking home when Triance again assaulted the woman, punching her to the head. 

The pair arrived at home where the “victim retreated into the bathroom to rub the blood from her face”. 

Triance followed her into the room and assaulted her again.

The accused was arrested a short time later. 

Paramedics treated the victim at the scene and she had to be taken to Warrnambool Base Hospital.

Triance was then issued with bail conditions to remain outside Port Fairy and not to contact witnesses in the case. 

He failed to appear in court on September 22 and later drank with a prosecution witness in Port Fairy, breaching his bail. 

On September 27 police responded to complaints of two men being unruly on Ocean Drive in Port Fairy. 

Triance was found hiding in the rocks nearby. He was intoxicated and also had a gash to the back of his head.

“It’s also believed that he has been residing with the victim in contravention of the order,” Sergeant Skilton said. 

Defence counsel Belinda Northey urged magistrate John Lesser to issue a suspended sentence to allow Triance to seek treatment for drug and alcohol issues. 

Mr Lesser said Triance had shown “complete disregard for the orders that have been made”. 

“You need to dry out and get on with a community corrections order,” he said. 

He convicted and sentenced Triance to spend 21 days in jail, with 14 days suspended for the reckless assault and breach of orders. 

He also took into account the time spent in custody since Triance’s arrest on Saturday. 

Triance was also convicted and fined $300 for failing to appear in court.