A man told his partner she deserved the bashing he handed out, but denied to a probation officer he had an anger problem.

Michael Ah Tong was jailed for 14 months when he appeared for sentence in Christchurch District Court on a charge of male assaults female and three of breaching protection orders.

The judge noted it was the 19-year-old's eighth assault-related offence and third for male assaults female.