A SPRINGDALE Heights man who allegedly assaulted his de facto partner with a tomahawk has been released from jail to live at Lake Cargelligo, with a bail condition preventing him from coming within 20 kilometres of Albury.
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Leigh Matthew Thorpe, 28, of Gardinia Street, appeared in Albury Local Court yesterday by video link from Junee jail on charges of using an offensive weapon to commit an indictable offence, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of assault.
Solicitor Bill Roberts said Thorpe pleaded guilty to one of the lesser assault counts but not guilty to the other charges.
Magistrate Tony Murray adjourned the charges until May 20 and bailed him to live with his aunt.
Police told the court Thorpe had lived with his partner at Springdale Heights for 10 months.
He and two cousins drank a slab of heavy beer in three hours on Friday.
About 5pm Thorpe said he was going to a friend’s house and his partner said she needed help with their children.
“You’re not going to put me under the thumb,” Thorpe said and wrapped his arm around her throat.
Later he allegedly pulled her hair and put his arms around her throat again before punching her in the mouth.
Shortly after, the victim saw him smoking in the backyard holding a tomahawk and locked the laundry door, but Thorpe entered through the front door.
She picked up a broom and he allegedly swung the tomahawk at her forehead, striking her right arm.