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Magistrate is sympathetic
Rebecca Woolley
22 April 2008
MAGISTRATE Andrew George yesterday expressed some "sympathy" with a Narrabeen man as he sentenced him for assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
Rowan Peter Sands, 29, was slapped with a 12-month good behaviour bond and ordered to pay a $1500 fine and court costs after being convicted of common assault.
Sands, represented by solicitor Jim Maspero, pleaded guilty last month to assaulting his former partner on March 6 this year while she held their eight-month-old son.
Police papers tendered to the court said he yelled at her to "toughen up" after the couple argued when Sands arrived home later than expected.
After the baby began crying Sands followed the mother into the bedroom, where he bent back her index finger, grabbed her wrist and pulled her arm behind her back.
At Manly Court yesterday Mr George said he felt some sympathy for Sands, stating the media tended to be "a little bit selective".
"It's (domestic violence) something the media enjoys reporting," he said.
"But the media is a little bit selective about matters it reports.
"Really everything should be reported."
He said there should be more "discouragement" relating to domestic violence, which in this case was an incident which had "got out of control".
In deciding against sending Sands to jail, Mr George told him to co-operate with the probation service and said anger management might be a "good thing".
"Any kind of assault in a domestic context is an assault that the community cannot cope with," he said.
"I do not think a custodial penalty should be imposed; instead you will be dealt with by a bond ... and pay a fine."
Mr Maspero previously told the court his client was willing to go to alcohol counselling.
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