Thornlands man slaps partner during difficult nappy change with such force ambulance called

A father who slapped his partner so savagely she was taken to hospital has been warned he was lucky to escape prison.

A father angered at his partner slapped her so hard in the stomach during a nappy change she fell to the ground struggling for breath before presenting at hospital with “significant bruising” requiring an internal examination, a court has heard.

Appearing at Cleveland Magistrates Court on Friday Trent James O’Brien, 30, pleaded guilty to assaults occasioning bodily harm (domestic violence offence).

Viewing images taken of the woman’s “significantly bruised abdominal area”, Acting Magistrate Leanne Scoines could not hide her dismay when addressing the Thornlands father of three.

“These photos are shocking,” Ms Scoines said.

“You need to do some serious work on yourself.

“The community has well and truly had enough of this (type of offending).

“It is completely unacceptable to do this.

“You are lucky to escape prison today.”

Trent O'Brien leaves Cleveland Magistrates Court. Picture: Marcel Baum

The court heard O’Brien had woken on January 2 at around 9am to hear his child become unruly during the change of a nappy overflowing with faeces.

The blow by O’Brien was of such force it “knocked her to the ground” where the woman struggled to breathe, according to a police prosecutor.

An ambulance transported the woman to Redland Hospital where an internal examination was deemed necessary owing to significant bruising, the court heard.

Defence solicitor Kelli Martin said the incident was an over-reaction on her client’s behalf.

O’Brien, Ms Martin said, had a strong work history as a leading hand at a roofing company for which he regularly worked up to 50 hours a week.

The court heard O’Brien had since left the house and the relationship, had sought counselling and was “very remorseful” for his behaviour.

Numerous glowing references were tendered to the court on behalf of the defendant which variously expressed shock and described O’Brien as an honest person, well thought of.

Ms Scoines denounced the man’s “disproportionate reaction”, “to see how she (his partner) liked it”.

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O’Brien was sentenced to three months’ prison, wholly suspended for 12 months.

A conviction was recorded.