Adam Knight avoids jail after punching partner in face in Caringbah home

A builder with a history of domestic violence punched his partner in the face four months after she gave birth to their child, a court has heard.

A builder “cowardly assaulted” his partner in their Caringbah South home last year. He was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A builder has shown no remorse for “cowardly” punching his partner in the face while she lay helpless on the floor, a court has heard.

Adam Knight, 49, was supported by his partner when he pleaded guilty to common assault and intimidation in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday.

Court documents state the Caringbah South man had been with his partner for two years when, on November 5, 2021, they returned home from a night out in Cronulla.

The couple were fighting about a message the woman received from a friend where Knight yelled at her multiple times “tell me the truth”.

Knight accused her of infidelity, which she denied.

“Tell me the truth or I’ll f--king kill you. I’ll kill you,” he yelled at her.

Adam Knight, 49, was supported by his partner when he was ordered to serve a jail sentence in the community in Sutherland Local Court after he pleaded guilty to common assault and intimidation. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

He then pushed the victim to the ground and punched her in the head while she lay on the floor.

The woman raised her leg to push Knight away, but he retaliated by kicking towards her before he walked away.

Police arrived a short time later and spoke to Knight, the woman and two witnesses who provided a video recording of the incident.

In court, defence lawyer Edward Bramble said Knight and the woman were still in a relationship and had sought an AVO be relaxed so they could live together again, adding there had been no further violence towards her.

Mr Bramble said Knight hadn’t drunk alcohol since the date of the offence.

He conceded a sentencing assessment report indicated his client was in denial about his offending, had a lack of insight, and had a criminal history of domestic violence.

The court heard Knight had not addressed his anger management or domestic violence through counselling or psychological treatment

Mr Bramble noted Knight indicated in the report that he was not willing to do community service work because of his employment, fearing it would be a burden on him and he might lose his job if he could not work five days a week.

The court heard Knight had not addressed his anger management or domestic violence through counselling or psychological treatment.

Magistrate Donnelly gave Knight the chance to reassess his willingness to do community service and later told the court he could complete hours of work.

Mr Donnelly said Knight’s actions were a “cowardly assault”on his partner who had a baby four months prior.

He said Knight showed “no remorse and a lack of insight” and had not learnt after previously being sentenced to intensive correction orders for domestic violence offences.

Knight was placed on an intensive correction order for 18 months. He must complete 200 hours of community service, abstain from alcohol and undertake anger management and alcohol counselling if directed.