A BENDIGO drug trafficker has been jailed for more than six years for a "brutal and cowardly" attack against his former partner.
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The 28-year-old man on Friday swore at the County Court judge and called him a "dog" after he was handed his prison term of six years and nine months.
The man, who had pleaded guilty to offences including conduct endangering life and trafficking methamphetamine, had been quiet as Judge Mark Dean described the "shocking" assault on February 29 last year.
The court heard the man went to his former partner's East Bendigo property and demanded that he be let inside.
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The 28-year-old verbally abused the woman about cheating on him, before pointing a sawn-off firearm in her face and telling her he would "f*** her life".
He then drove the woman to his property in Marong where he physically assaulted her.
The man placed his hands around her neck and, when she tried to fight him off, he grabbed her in a headlock and said he would strangle and kill her.
The 28-year-old also repeatedly punched the woman and lit the ends of her hair on fire with a butane lighter.
The man eventually brought the woman back to the East Bendigo property, but told her if she alerted the police to the assault, he would hurt her.
The woman reported the incident to officers on March 12 and police arrested the man at his Marong property on April 7.
During the search warrant, officers found about 111.72 grams of methamphetamine with a street value of about $50,000.
Police also found 10.7 grams of MDMA, 4.7 grams of heroin, a loaded sawn-off rifle, ammunition, and $21,400 in cash.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Dean described the family violence incident as a "brutal and cowardly attack" that would have been "terrifying" for the "defenceless" victim.
The judge said it was the fundamental responsibility of the court to protect the community against such violence.
Judge Dean said drugs also caused "immeasurable harm" in society, before noting it was the man's third time before the court on trafficking charges.
The judge said he accepted the man had a "profoundly disadvantaged background" of family violence, abuse, and drug use.
Judge Dean said those personal circumstances would moderate the man's moral culpability in regards to the offending against his partner.
The judge said the man's diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder would also make his time in custody more onerous.
Judge Dean said this case was "complex" given the seriousness of the charges were countered by the man's personal history.
The judge said he "significantly moderated" the man's prison term as a result of those mitigating features.
The man was convicted and sentenced to six years and nine months in jail, with a non-parole period of three years and six months.
His 578 days of pre-sentence detention were reckoned as already served.
If the man did not plead guilty, he would have been jailed for eight years and six months with a non-parole period of five years and six months.
If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, the Centre for Non-Violence is available on 1800 884 292. Safe Steps is a 24-hour statewide crisis line, available on 1800 015 188.
If you or someone else is in danger, call 000.
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