A WARRNAMBOOL district man who grabbed his partner around the throat and regularly abused her has been placed on a corrections order.
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Brendon Joel Holmes, 30, of Drummond Street, Dennington, appeared in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court for a contest mention hearing on Tuesday and eventually pleaded guilty to three police briefs of evidence.
He was in a relationship for five years, the couple had three young children but regularly fought and sometimes those disagreements turned physical.
Holmes had in the past stopped his partner seeking medical treatment as that had led to reports to police.
On September 4 last year the woman went to police after she said Holmes had grabbed and bruised her left forearm.
Holmes admitted to police the couple sometimes slapped each other.
He said his partner would "crack it" when he spent too much money on groceries and there was not enough for her to buy cigarettes.
Holmes denied high level verbal abuse and said he grabbed the woman but did not hit her.
At 3pm on November 4 the couple argued again after the woman lost a wallet containing $50, money which she had borrowed.
Holmes and the woman both threw crockery on the floor in front of their children during the arguement.
He then grabbed the woman and threw her - twice, and then grabbed her around the throat again.
At 4pm a witness called police and said Holmes had grabbed the woman by the hair outside their home and then dragged her inside.
When police arrived Holmes grabbed an officer by the vest.
There was a wrestle, Holmes was hit to the head to subdue him and sprayed with capsicum spray.
The victim suffered red marks to her arms and neck.
Holmes has no prior court appearances in Victoria but an extensive record in New South Wales.
Magistrate Ron Saines said if Holmes contested the charges and lost he risked serving a term of imprisonment.
He said in a sentencing indication that an immediate plea to a reduced number of charges would result in a community corrections order.
Holmes accepted the sentence indication.
Mr Saines said Holmes had been engaged in a pattern of low level physical violence but high end verbal abuse.