Cobram: Ned Lear sentenced after bashing mum with daughter home

A former Cobram tradie who bashed a mother while her daughter was in the same home has escaped jail time.

A magistrate has slammed a former Cobram tradie who bashed a woman while her daughter was in the same home.

Ned Lear, 29, was sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order after pleading guilty to charges including assault of a female, criminal damage and trespassing in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court.

Court documents reveal Lear got inside the woman’s property through the rear door knowing she was home on January 25 this year.

An argument broke out between Lear and the woman before he punched a hole in a bedroom wall causing $200 damage.

The woman ran from the house screaming before a neighbour called police.

Lear chased her outside before he kicked and punched her before he kicked in the back door and again punched her several times.

Police attended the scene and arrested Lear who was remanded in custody before being bailed by the court several days later.

Magistrate Peter Mithen slammed Lear, who has worked as a concrete labourer, describing his actions as “reprehensible”.

“(He is) virtually inviting a period of imprisonment,” Magistrate Mithen said.

“You need to learn from this. You really are on the edge.

“The community will not tolerate these sorts of activities.”

Lear’s defence lawyer Anthony Coote agreed his client was “pretty damn close” to being put behind bars.

“His record is not good,” Mr Coote said.

“He is making a real effort to address (his behaviour).”

As part of his sentence, Lear was ordered to undergo treatment for drug use.

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