A MAN accused of holding his pregnant partner at knifepoint after breaking into her home and threatening to kill her has been denied bail.
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The 29-year-old man made the application in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Friday after he was charged with offences including contravening a family violence intervention order.
The accused swore at the magistrate and called him a "paedophile" after his application was refused.
The court heard the intervention order was issued on May 17 this year, with the man's pregnant partner and young child listed as the protected persons.
Under the order, the man could not communicate or be within five metres of the woman and child.
Police alleged on the evening of July 16, the man went to the woman's Bendigo home in breach of the order.
A verbal argument allegedly broke out between the man and woman after he accused her of cheating on him.
The man allegedly grabbed a knife during the altercation and as the woman tried to grab it off him, she sustained a cut to her hand.
Police were called and the man was arrested and taken to the Bendigo Police Station. He was released on bail at 11.35pm that evening.
The court heard only 13 minutes later, the man allegedly called a taxi to take him to the woman's home.
The woman and child left the property for the night because they feared the accused would return.
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Later that afternoon, the woman returned to her home with a friend.
The woman entered the property to see if there were any disturbances, while the friend remained at the front door.
The court heard the man jumped out at the woman and allegedly grabbed her while holding a hammer. The woman's friend ran next door to call the police.
The man allegedly locked the front door before punching the woman in the face until her lip split.
The court heard the man then forced the woman onto the ground while he grabbed a large knife from the kitchen.
Police alleged the man threatened to kill the woman if her friend contacted the police.
The man allegedly demanded cigarettes from the woman and she said they were in her car. Police alleged the man dragged her outside while still holding the knife.
Officers arrived and the man allegedly became enraged, dragging the woman back to the door.
He allegedly tried to lock her inside but the woman held onto the door as she yelled out for the police to help her.
The court heard police had to use pepper spray to arrest the man.
Detective Senior Constable Christopher Gomez told the court the woman was "extremely fearful" of the accused.
The informant said he would be opposing bail because of the man's history of reoffending.
Defence lawyer Adrienna Kisvarda said the accused had stable accommodation available with his mother outside of the Bendigo area, which could reduce risk.
Ms Kisvarda said the man was also suitable for the Court Integrated Services Program, which could help him address his substance abuse issues.
The defence lawyer said the man was contesting most of the charges so there would be a significant delay in court proceedings.
Ms Kisvarda said while the prosecution did not have a "weak" case, it was still a matter of word-on-word.
Magistrate Alan Spillane refuted that submission, saying the prosecution had a "very powerful" case.
Mr Spillane said while there could be a delay, the man was facing a significant jail term if he was convicted.
The magistrate said the man had shown that he would go to any length to "get his way" so bail conditions would not mitigate risk.
Mr Spillane refused bail and remanded the man in custody. The man is due to return to the Bendigo Magistrates' Court next year for a committal hearing.
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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