Lee Schwidder sentenced for breaking partner’s nose in vicious domestic violence attack

A Brooklyn Park construction worker of “impeccable character” choked his partner and broke her nose in a vicious assault, before telling her she had hit herself.

A man who bashed his partner during an argument ironically helped another domestic violence victim, a court heard.

Lee David Schwidder, 39, was told by a judge he had “failed himself as a man” for his vicious assault.

The Adelaide District Court heard the victim and Schwidder had been in a “dysfunctional and volatile” relationship since 2018.

Schwidder had let the victim stay at his on February 8, 2020 to recover from surgery.

“As you continued to drink through the evening you were verbally abusing (the victim) calling her names and belittling her,” Judge Joana Fuller said during sentencing.

“She went to walk away, but you grabbed the hair on the back of her head and pulled it, causing her to fall on the floor.

“While holding her hair you grabbed her around the throat for about five seconds.”

The court heard Schwidder let go of the victim’s throat and she fell to the ground.

“You punched her to the right eye and nose using a clenched fist, as she tried to get up,” Judge Fuller said.

“(The victim) then crawled into your bedroom and you came back with a cloth and threw it at her telling her she had hit herself.”

The court heard the victim suffered a broken nose, bruising and the scar wound on her neck from the surgery had come apart on both ends.

“(The victim) is still traumatised by the feelings of terror from being attacked by you,” Judge Fuller said.

Schwidder, of Brooklyn Park, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm.

Lee Schwidder was sentenced for a vicious assault on his partner. Photo: Facebook

The court heard Schwidder works as a construction worker and is now in a new relationship.

“You are described as highly respectful, loyal, caring, empathetic, of great moral character, respected in the community, and a person who ironically is credited with assisting the sister of one of your friends who herself was suffering from domestic violence,” Judge Fuller said.

The court heard Schwidder had written a letter of apology to the victim and had stopped drinking alcohol.

“Although no excuse, it is clear that your judgment was clouded by alcohol and you lost control in a moment of anger during what appears to have been yet another argument in a dysfunctional and unhealthy relationship,” Judge Fuller said.

Judge Fuller sentenced Schwidder to ten months in jail.

“Given your impeccable good character you know the right way to behave in a relationship, but you failed yourself as a man and a member of this community when you perpetrated violence upon the person you should have protected,” she said.

“Any form of violence against women is brutal, it is cowardly and it is inexcusable.”

Due to Schwidder’s remorse and previous good character, the sentence was suspended on a $100, 12-month good behaviour bond.