A Lavington man who savagely bashed his ex-wife in the middle of the night will remain locked-up until early next year.
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It is not the first time he has has attacked the victim, having been jailed last year for similar offences.
On that occasion, Adrian Peter Hoffmann concocted the story of an unblemished military record over more than two decades.
Albury Local Court was told at the time that this included three tours of Afghanistan and one of Iraq, causing his addiction to methamphetamine.
But magistrate Tony Murray was told a different story when Hoffmann fronted court this week via a video link to Junee jail.
Defence solicitor Sascha McCorriston said Hoffmann, 43, had spent just five years in the Royal Australian Navy before he was discharged over his use of drugs.
Hoffmann pleaded guilty to the charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and the contravention of an apprehended violence order.
But that was only after allowing the victim, his former wife, to undergo cross-examination as a witness during a recent contested hearing.
Ms McCorriston said Hoffmann had undertaken a program called “Stop the anger now” since going into custody and had also been accepted into a treatment program should he be released.
“There’s no doubt that this relationship between Mr Hoffmann and the victim is a toxic relationship,” she said.
But Mr Murray quickly interjected, warning that Hoffmann was “going to spend a long time in custody”.
He jailed him for 16 months with a non-parole period of 10 months.
The court was told the pair were in a domestic relationship for two and a half years, including 18 months as husband and wife.
That broke down in September, but Hoffmann stayed as he was her carer.
The latest incident happened on March 21 after the victim left her bedroom at 12.10am.
Hoffmann accused her of stealing money then became more aggressive, prompting her to call police.
About 4am, Hoffmann returned to the Woomera Crescent house.
He banged on the front door but she refused to let him in, so he climbed through a window and began punching her in the face, head and torso.
“The accused has grabbed the victim around the throat in one hand, causing a scratch on the side of the victim’s neck,” police said.
Police arrived soon after to hear the victim calling out, “Adrian don’t, Adrian don’t”.
