Warrnambool man filmed choking heavily pregnant wife

The 32-year-old, who cannot be named because that would identify the victim, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Monday to unlawful assault.

He was convicted and fined $950.

The court heard the man and woman were married at the time of the offending on March 6, 2017.

A verbal argument started in the lounge room of their home at 7.23am.

The man became agitated, he threw a tea towel at her and then wrapped his hands around her throat before choking her for up to four seconds.

The victim was heavily pregnant with their first child.

The court heard the man then began smothering the woman by covering her face with his hand and pushing her head into the couch.

The incident was captured on CCTV.

The court heard the victim did not immediately report the incident because she was scared and did not know what the man was capable of.

The assault was reported to police some years later.

During an interview, the man told police he couldn't remember the incident.

Then when shown the video footage, he said he put his hands over her face "with minimal force".

On Thursday, lawyer Kiernan Celestina said the man now took full responsibility for his actions and was remorseful.

He said the man wished to apologise for his conduct, which he said was a result of an "angry outburst'.

Mr Celestina said the man ran a successful hospitality business in Warrnambool and that at the time of the offending was suffering psychological distress after the death of his close friend and cousin.

Mr Celestina urged the court to consider a good behaviour bond without conviction.

But magistrate Mark Stratmann said the offending was too serious.

"This falls into the category of family violence and the superior courts of this state have made a point in many, many cases that people who commit family violence must be severely dealt with the court," he said.

"Often people are sent to prison for the kind of offending that brings you to court... but that is not appropriate in this case."

Mr Stratmann said he believed the risk of the man reoffending was "very very small".

But he said that did not diminish the seriousness of the offending.

"This occurred in a family home," he said.

"It is family violence in my view and is to be condemned by the court whenever it occurs."

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