A man who told his pregnant girlfriend he didn't want her to have his baby and threatened he would 'take it out of her' has been handed a good behaviour bond.
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The 23-year-old - who cannot be named to protect the identity of the woman - fronted Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to one count of intending fear or physical harm.
According to court documents the man had been staying with his family in Dubbo when he began arguing with his four to eight week pregnant partner in his room on May 31 this year.
It was during the argument that the man told his girlfriend he didn't want her to have his baby and that "I will take it out of you".
Family and domestic violence support:
- 1800 Respect national helpline:1800 737 732
- Women's Crisis Line:1800 811 811
- Men's Referral Service:1300 766 491
- Lifeline (24 hour crisis line):131 114
- Relationships Australia:1300 364 277
- NSW Domestic Violence Line:1800 656 463
The pair left the room, when the man's brother separated them, and his mother contacted police.
Police arrived a short time later to find the woman uncooperative with their questions, and the two witnesses unwilling to provide statements.
The 23-year-old man came out of the house and told officers he had intimidated the woman by saying he would take the baby out of her. He was arrested and taken to Dubbo police station where he was charged.
In court on Wednesday Aboriginal Legal Service defence lawyer Fiona Alamyar conceded while what was said would have caused the woman fear for her safety, she argued it was an "empty threat" during an argument.
"It was said in the context of an argument where the victim has threatened to raise the child with another man. [My client] has become angry and reacted badly and in a way that is out of character," she said.
She argued her client was a young man who had a limited criminal record with one matter where he received a fine for an affray charge.
Magistrate Mal Macpherson took into account Ms Alamyar's submissions and accepted the man's early plea.
The man was placed on a conditional release order to be of good behaviour for nine months.