'Your wife and children are not your possessions': Jail time for offender

"You may not do with them as you please, like you would with your dog or your car," magistrate Simon Zebrowski told the man at Horsham Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The man - who is not named to protect the victim's identity - pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and breaching family violence and community corrections orders.

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Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable David Cosgriff said the man was charged with assaulting his former long-term partner earlier this year and ordered by the court not to contact the victim.

The court heard that months later, the man visited the victim's house unannounced, and stayed there for multiple nights, against her wishes.

"The victim contacted police, and she wanted him out of her house and that she could not return home," Mr Cosgriff said.

"(The man) has made the victim feel isolated and unable to contact police since his arrival. She was able to report (the man's) whereabouts at work as she unable to get away from him until this time."

Police searched the man on his arrest, finding "small" amounts of cannabis in articles of clothing.

"(Police) located a small snaplock bag containing cannabis in the pocket of the black jacket, and another snaplock bag containing cannabis in the pocket of the jeans," Mr Cosgriff said.

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Defence lawyer James Conahan conceded his client's offending was serious but said the most recent occasion was a "de-escalation".

Mr Conahan told the court his client arrived in Australia as a refugee and had struggled due to his lack of education and inability to speak English.

"While it's not an excuse, (my client) experiences a large amount of difficulty understanding legal terminology with or without the use of an interpreter," he said.

"It would also be my submission that this offending happened during the breakdown of a serious relationship over several years and in the context of (my client's) drug addiction."

The court heard the man had spent his childhood living in poverty in a refugee camp with his family.

"(My client) instructs me that he had a desire to learn and work," Mr Conahan said.

"When he came here, he didn't know how to improve himself or his wellbeing, and he's struggled to find a way since.

"But he had to escape for his safety and the safety of his family."

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Magistrate Simon Zebrowski sympathised with the man's traumatic upbringing but reminded the court of the gravity of his offending.

"Here's the situation, plain and simple. You had a difficult time in your life. I accept that. But you're going to have to understand something," he said.

"I don't know what is considered acceptable behaviour in (your home country). But I do know what is acceptable in Victoria, Australia.

"You assaulted your partner, and basically stood over her and terrorised her for a period of time. And for that, taking everything into account, the court gave you an opportunity and put you on a community corrections order.

"In Victoria, we do not tolerate people who are violent to their partners. I can tell you, I do not tolerate people who ignore orders of the court.

"I need to send a message to you and other like-minded people that when the court makes an order, you follow it.

"I need to make you understand that your wife and children are not your possessions. You may not do with them as you please, like you would with your dog or your car.

"Now if you cannot get these basic facts into your head, then you will find you will spend more and more time in custody, and you should get used to the inside of a cell."

The man was imprisoned for 74 days concurrently for breaching family violence and community corrections orders, of which 45 days were already served, and fined $200 for the possession of cannabis.

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