Magistrate Bruce Cottrill made the comments while sentencing a Kangaroo Flat man in his 40s who pleaded guilty to recklessly causing injury to his partner during an attack earlier this year.

The victim had asked police to withdraw the charge less than one month after the incident.

Mr Cottrill said the courts had a responsibility to ensure people were properly prosecuted for violating the sanctity of the home.

“It’s always a matter of concern when victims come to police wanting charges to be withdrawn,” he said.

“You shouldn’t have to put up with violence in the home.”

The court heard the man and his partner had been arguing on a day in early April this year.

Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Alan Walker said the man threw a tray of pumpkin at the victim while in the kitchen.

When the argument intensified, he threw her into a kitchen cupboard and went to the backyard.

The victim followed him outside where they continued arguing, before a neighbour came to try to “mediate” the situation.

The woman went to the neighbour’s house where police were contacted, but the man followed her there and “threw her into a wall”, Leading Senior Constable Walker said.

The court heard she suffered bruising from the attack.

The man was charged with recklessly causing injury, but the woman attempted to have the charges withdrawn in early May.

Police had an obligation to proceed with the charges.

The victim sat beside the accused in court on Monday, having “patched up” their relationship.

He pleaded guilty to the charge.

Defence counsel John Whelan said the man had not faced court on violence charges for several decades and described the incident as an “aberration”.

He said alcohol had been a factor and the couple had stopped drinking as a result.

Mr Cottrill agreed that the man was unlikely to re-offend, but was critical of the attempt to have the charges withdrawn.

He was fined $2500 without a conviction and made to take part in a men’s behaviour change program. The case was adjourned for 12 months.