Man reduced to tears when he saw photos of partner’s injuries he inflicted, court hears

A MAN who beat up his partner cried when he saw photos of her injuries, which were described as ‘confronting’ by the judge, a court has heard

A man who beat up his partner cried when he saw photos of her injuries, which were described as ‘confronting’ by the judge, a court has heard

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A MAN who beat up his partner cried when he saw photos of her injuries, which were described as “confronting” by the judge, a court has heard.

Henley Driffen, 23, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court to causing serious harm to his partner on May 14 this year during a night of drinking in Hermansburg.

The court heard Driffen and the victim – his partner of three years and mother to their three-year-old child – were drinking at a party before they wandered the streets until the early hours of the morning when they got into a jealousy-fuelled argument.

Crown prosecutor Simon Lapinski said the victim began hitting Driffen with a stick before he retaliated and hit her.

“The offender started hitting the victim (who) ended up on the ground. The offender kicked the victim in the face twice.

“The offender was wearing shoes.”

Mr Lapinski said after being assessed in Hermannsburg and receiving treatment in Alice Springs she was transferred to Royal Darwin Hospital for surgery.

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Driffen was arrested in Hermansburg on May 28, 2020.

The victim was hospitalised for a week and sustained a black eye, a broken jaw, a broken front tooth and a cut to the lip.

Defence lawyer Jenna Charles said Driffen’s behaviour was “not pre-medicated or sophisticated” but there was “no denying Driffen acted in a disproportionate matter” to his partner’s actions when she hit him with a stick.

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Ms Charles said Driffen, who was “heavily intoxicated” at the time had told her he acknowledged his behaviour was “wrong and unplanned” and said he had “walked away before and wish he had this time”.

“Driffen was in tears when he looked at the photos,” Ms Charles said.

She told the court Driffen was “disgusted and shamed by his behaviour” and was willing to undertake courses to better his behaviour in the future.

Justice Judith Kelly addressed Driffen and said, “Wouldn’t it be a better idea to take the stick off them and throw it away?”.

He was sentenced to three years’ jail, but will be released after serving 12 months and put on a Good Behaviour Bond for two years.

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