A MAGISTRATE has labelled a Horsham man a "bully" and a "thug" as he was sentenced to four months in jail for family violence offences.
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Jake Walton, 23, appeared in Horsham Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to contravening a family violence order, threatening property damage, and breaching a corrections order.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Belinda Ryan told the court that Walton got into a verbal argument with a western Victorian woman on February 19.
The victim became fearful and went outside and sat in her car.
Senior Constable Ryan said Walton followed her outside with her child's iPad, telling her he would smash it.
Walton continued to yell at the woman and tried to open the car door, which caused the woman to panic and start honking the horn to get the attention of neighbours.
Police arrived and Walton was charged.
There was an intervention order in place between Walton and the woman at the time of the incident.
Defence lawyer Nick Graham said Walton and the woman were in an ongoing relationship, and they would yell at each other all the time, but then make up.
"Things go bad when other people get involved and call the police," he said.
Mr Graham said Walton had previously had a problem with methamphetamine, but was in a "far better place now than he has ever been".
"He cries out for one more chance and assures the court he will not come back again," he said.
Magistrate Peter Dunn said Walton had appeared before the court many times for family violence offending.
He said Walton had also been placed on community corrections orders in the past and he hadn't completed them.
"This is his fourth breach of a corrections order, so he's had plenty of opportunities," he said.
"The horse has been led to the trough numerous times."
Mr Dunn called Walton a "bully" and a "thug".
"You've had every opportunity and all I get is weasel words," he said.
"You have proven time and time again that you cannot keep your hands in your pockets."
Mr Dunn told Walton he needed to "wise up".
"Domestic violence is condemned by the community and there is a lot more to it than just physical violence - it's about people living in constant fear," he said.
"The woman you have affection for has had to flee the house and hide in a car while you threatened to destroy children's property."
Mr Dunn sentenced Walton to four months in jail.
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