A GUYRA man has traded a flatmate for a cell mate after being jailed for biting a woman he was living with in Sydney.
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The man appeared at the Armidale Local Court via video link on Tuesday, after being incarcerated on October 23 last year.
The 57-year-old man was before the court for sentencing on two separate matters, one involving an altercation in Guyra, and the other in Sydney.
After pleading guilty to one count each of common assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and stalking with the intention of causing fear, the man was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with a non-parole period of four months.
His legal representative Guy Newby said his client had lived a relatively trouble-free life until his 28-year marriage broke down in 1998.
“He has been on a downward spiral since then,” Mr Newby said.
The court heard the 57-year-old had a violent confrontation with a man working at a Guyra service station.
While he was on bail for this offence, the man attacked the woman he was living with in Sydney. Mr Newby asked Magistrate Karen Stafford to take into account his client’s “unfortunate childhood” and current mental state, also arguing the victim’s injuries as the result of the biting attack were at the lower end of the scale.
He said the 57-year-old intended to return to Guyra once his sentence been served.
“It is hoped that after this experience he can put his best foot forward,” Mr Newby said.
Magistrate Karen Stafford said the offender’s case had included some damning details.
“[The victim] was just a man doing his job,” she said.
“You intimidated him later with quite serious threats.
“You actually attacked your flatmate by biting her on her arm – that would have been very scary for her.”
Following the sentencing, the man launched an appeal against the decision.
He was denied bail.
The matter will return to the Armidale District Court on February 23.