Man who assaulted his partner says he wants to ‘break the cycle’ of domestic violence

A man who repeatedly punched his partner in the head with children present in the home says he wants to “break the cycle” of domestic violence and be better for his children. Lionel Rex Johnston admitted to punching his partner three times in the head before stepping back, producing a large knife, and telling her he would stab himself after an argument regarding a funeral last year. The 23-year-old’s physical and emotional abuse landed him an 11-month prison sentence in Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court on Thursday, with magistrate Brie Ayling telling him his actions were “really disgusting”. The court was told the 32-year-old victim, his partner of seven years and mother of his children, had run to her sister’s bedroom where she was sleeping after the argument broke out on July 24. The sister woke up and witnessed Johnston attack her sister and pull out a knife, prompting her to grab her children who were sleeping nearby and try to leave the home. In addition to the unlawful assault causing bodily harm with circumstance of aggravation, Johnston also pleaded guilty to a charge of making a threat to do an act, in which he held the knife and told the sister she was “going nowhere” as she attempted to flee. The victim’s sister ended up jumping out of a window and running to the neighbour’s house for help. Defence lawyer Will Reid said Johnston had apologised to his partner and understood that he had “let her down”. Mr Reid said Johnston wished to stay with family upon his release and “work on himself” before attempting to return to the relationship. Having witnessed family violence as a child growing up, Johnston claimed he wanted to “break the cycle” and wished to take part in counselling to help him change. Ms Ayling said Johnston had also been candid about his use of methamphetamine around the time of the offending. She granted him a 25 per cent discount to his sentence for his early guilty pleas, sentencing him to 11 months jail backdated to December 14, with eligibility for parole. He was also fined $1200 for driving and stealing offences.