Whanganui man who squeezed partner's jaw and spat in her face sentenced for assault

Judge Philip Crayton said James Dowdle's assault on his partner last year was a distressing and concerning incident. Photo / Stuart Munro

A man took his partner's phone, swore at her, then grabbed her jaw and squeezed it during an argument on Christmas Eve last year.

James Russell Dowdle then leaned down towards his partner of two years and spat in her face in the presence of their four-month-old son.

The victim stood up and began to walk out of the room when Dowdle kicked her in the back of her right knee.

Dowdle pleaded guilty to assault on a person in a family relationship and was sentenced in Whanganui District Court on Monday.

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The summary doesn't really set out the circumstances of the offending. A close friend of Mr Dowdle's had committed suicide a few days before this happened.

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His lawyer Mark McGee said that Dowdle and his partner were now separated.

"The summary doesn't really set out the circumstances of the offending. A close friend of Mr Dowdle's had committed suicide a few days before this happened," McGee said.

"There'd been a dispute between the couple and Mr Dowdle was going to spend time with his friend's family and that led to an argument which led to the offending."

The offending occurred in the same year Dowdle had been charged with male assaults female against a different victim.

It was the second family harm incident between Dowdle and his partner, who had no visible injuries following the assault and did not require treatment.

Judge Philip Crayton said he was giving Dowdle a final chance.

"Mr Dowdle, your history does not do you any credit. It is plainly a distressing and concerning incident so far as the victim is concerned," Judge Crayton said.

"It is not to be excused, but it perhaps has an explanation in the traumatic events which had occurred shortly before."

Judge Crayton sentenced Dowdle to 18 months' intensive supervision and 100 hours' community work.