William Maclennan in Coffs Harbour court for domestic violence charges

The victim of a domestic violence attack was teaching her partner how to bake for their successful Coffs business, around the time he choked her and dragged her off a bed, a court has heard.

The victim of a domestic violence attack was teaching her partner William Maclennan how to bake around the time he choked her and dragged her off a bed, a court has heard.

William Maclennan - who was “not known to the court in his 39 years”, according to his lawyer Kinlock Oliver - pleaded guilty to three domestic violence charges.

The 40-year-old was charged with intentionally choke etc person without consent (domestic violence); common assault (domestic violence); and stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (domestic).

He appeared before magistrate Michael Dakin for sentencing in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Tuesday, September 27.

William Maclennan leaving Coffs Harbour Local Court on Tuesday September 27.

The court heard the couple were running a successful local bakery business at the time of the attack on September 8 and that Maclennan was under stress and suffering sleep deprivation which his lawyer told the court was “a form of torture”.

Mr Oliver said the offending was “out of the blue, but serious” and that his client has since walked away from the successful Coffs Harbour business and is working as a casual removalist.

In sentencing Mr Dakin said he accepted the actions were “isolated and impulsive” but added: “lots of people work long hours and don’t respond this way”.

Maclennan was convicted of all three charges and given a two-year community corrections order and must not commit any offence during that time.