Breakwater man Joshua Fensling assaulted woman over cigarette

As their young children watched on, a Breakwater man put his hands around a woman’s throat and threw her to the ground. See what happened to him in court.

Joshua Fensling assaulted a woman in front of their young children. Picture: Facebook.

A Breakwater man put a woman in a headlock and threw her to the ground in front of their young children after an argument broke out over a cigarette.

Joshua Fensling, 39, appeared at the Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to assaulting his former partner at her Norlane home in front of two of their five children.

In July this year, Fensling was at the family home when an argument over a cigarette escalated.

As Fensling was trying to leave, the woman put her hands up to block his escape and asked for him to stay and talk.

Fensling grabbed her in a headlock, put his arms around her throat and threw her to the ground.

The woman said she curled up out of fear more violence would come.

Two days later Fensling called the police station and self-reported the assault, telling them he had “just lost it”.

Joshua Fensling assaulting a woman in front of their young children. Picture: Facebook.

Defence lawyer Hollie Lyons said he “just snapped”.

“That’s clearly something he’s working on,” Ms Lyons said.

“He’s clearly a work in progress and remains so at this stage.”

Magistrate Simon Guthrie noted Fensling had been doing a men’s behavioural change program at the time and told him the “sole purpose … is you don’t snap when you’re under this sort of pressure”.

“You have gone backwards,” Mr Guthrie said.

“It would be fair to say that even though you self-reported, and I do give you some credit for that, the circumstances of the (assault in front) of the children … is just unacceptable behaviour.”

Mr Guthrie added it was “particularly concerning” that Fensling “didn’t really learn much” from the men’s behavioural change program.

“There’s just no place for family violence,” Mr Guthrie said.

Fensling avoided a conviction and was placed on an adjourned undertaking, meaning he must promise to not reoffend and to complete the behavioural change program and counselling.

Originally published as Breakwater man Joshua Fensling assaulted woman over cigarette