Domestic assault lands man in jail | Coffs Coast News | Local News in Coffs Coast

A MAN who bashed a woman, threw knives at her, and damaged her house and car has been sentenced to serve 22 months in prison.

James Paul Donnelly, 37, of no fixed address has been found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and damaging property in the Coffs Harbour Local Court.

Magistrate Judith Fleming this week ordered him to serve 18 months for the vicious domestic assault and a further four months for the damage he caused at the address in Moran Close, Toormina, on September 23 last year.

The court was told Donnelly, in a heavily intoxicated state, punched the woman with a closed fist after breaking two acoustic guitars inside the home.

As the woman ran outside he gave chase wrestling two knives off her, which she had picked up from a barbecue area.

Donnelly then threw the knives at the woman, narrowly missing her, before hurling pot plants in her direction, the court was told.