A WARRNAMBOOL partner involved in family violence during a long-term relationship breakdown has appealed against the severity of a five-month jail sentence.
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Leigh Anthony James, 28, of Janlor Drive, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court in late June to 22 charges, including multiple counts of breaching intervention orders, breaching bail conditions, causing criminal damage, unlawful assault and threatening to inflict injuries.
He was jailed for five months, fined $1000 and placed on a community corrections order.
On Thursday, James appealed against the severity of the jail term, which will be heard in the next sitting of the Warrnambool County Court which starts late this month.
Magistrate Peter Mellas granted James bail until his appeal hearing.
He noted James had served 105 days of his jail sentence and it was possible he could serve all his sentence before an appeal was heard.
When sentenced in late June, magistrate Cynthia Toose questioned whether James understood the ramifications of his offending, especially the impact on his five children.
She told James if he got out of prison and continued to commit similar offences he would be sent to jail for longer.
The victim said in an impact statement read to the court that her rights had been violated.
She said her self-worth had been destroyed, she had lost her smile and her ability to trust.
The woman said she had been forced to flee in the middle of the night with only a set of clothes for herself and her children, which forced her to rely on family and friends for essentials.
The charges alleged James had pushed the woman out of bed, grabbed her by the head and shook her and told her to listen before pulling her ears.
A large number of charges related to breaching an intervention order, sometimes by screaming and abusing the woman.