Judge Richard Cogswell adjourned a severity appeal by Jason Boswell until February 27.

“It is better for the community and you to get yourself rehabilitated,” Judge Cogswell said.

“When you come back, you can show me how things are going.

“So it is in your hands.

“The community and the Court of Criminal Appeal are quite concerned about domestic violence. This was a nasty assault.

“One way of protecting the community from drug dealers and people who commit domestic violence is to rehabilitate them so they do not do it again.”

Magistrate Megan Greenwood last month imposed a 16-month jail term with a minimum of eight months on Boswell on a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Ms Greenwood said there was a “scandalous situation in this country”, with domestic violence claiming the life of one woman a week.

“In my opinion, this is because of the poor attitude of some men towards women where they are not treating them with the respect they deserve,” she said.

An apprehended violence order was in place against Boswell, 40, of Eames Street, Albury, when he met his former partner on July 25.

The pair had arranged to meet and had drinks, leaving One nightclub about 1.40am on July 26.

The victim had driven Boswell home to the Albury Central Caravan Park where they started to argue.

Boswell held the victim back as she sat in the driver’s seat and he removed the keys from the ignition.

When the victim bit Boswell on the right forearm, he retaliated by punching her four or five times to the forehead and face.

She suffered a swollen left eye socket, a lump in her left ear, a chipped tooth and redness and swelling to her wrist.

Judge Cogswell said he was concerned about Boswell’s record and could see why a full-time jail term had been imposed for the offence.

Barrister Christine Mendes said Boswell was working and on a bail condition to abstain from alcohol.

A decision on his sentence will be made on February 27 in Sydney.