A MAN who punched his pregnant partner in the face during a violent assault witnessed by children has been jailed.
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The 32-year-old appeared in Dubbo Local Court via video link from Wellington Correctional Centre. He cannot be named due to laws protecting children.
Magistrate Andrew Eckhold said the man was ruining his life with alcohol and methamphetamine (commonly known as ice).
"Ice is problematic in Dubbo," he said.
"The drug coming in from south-east Asia is so pure."
The magistrate said domestic violence was damaging the man's children.
"It is causing them to fear you and think that violence is normal," he magistrate said.
"Your family is not your property. They are a gift that you should be cherishing."
Magistrate Eckhold said the man had committed a serious example of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
"You were found guilty after hearing," the magistrate said.
"It was all very dramatic in court that particular day."
Prosecution facts said the man and 31-year-old victim had known each other all their lives. They had lived together for 16 years.
The woman was three months pregnant with their sixth child when an argument erupted at a house in O'Donnell Street, West Dubbo.
The man had been drinking VB with a neighbour when the woman asked him to come home to move a mattress into the lounge room for the children.
The man walked in and saw the screen of his phone was broken. He started swearing and verbally abusing the woman.
She walked away as he continued to swear and yell.
The man followed the woman into their eldest daughter's bedroom.
The woman was punched in the mouth. She fell against the door and onto the floor. Blood was running down her face and the front of her shirt.
The man stood over the woman as she lashed out with her legs.
Children outside the bedroom window started calling out. The man jumped out the window and chased the children.
The woman went across the road to a neighbour to telephone police.
A solicitor from the Aboriginal Legal Service said the assault had constituted a single punch to the face.
"He takes responsibility for his actions," the solicitor said.
"He is willing to enter a drug rehabilitation centre and is aware of his history of violence.
"He needs to accept personal responsibility to get his problems into line."
The court was told the man grew up among excessive alcohol consumption and domestic violence.
Magistrate Eckhold said alcohol abuse and drug use were the reason for the man's problems.
"You are ruining your life with methamphetamines," the magistrate said.
Magistrate Eckhold imposed a 12-month jail sentence to start from August 16, when the man was taken into custody.
A non-parole period of six months was set. The man will be eligible for parole on February 14 next year.