An Adelaide man has been jailed for repeatedly punching his "defenceless" partner, causing her to drop her young son on a road.
WARNING: This story contains content that readers may find distressing.
When Sam Ryan Cooney, 32, was arrested, he told police charges should be laid against his partner instead of him.
He pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, driving without due care and recklessly causing harm to his then-partner in October last year.
During sentencing today, Chief Judge Michael Evans said Cooney was on methamphetamine when he repeatedly struck her in front of her young son – an attack that fractured the victim's face and has caused ongoing peripheral vision loss.
The couple got into an argument after Cooney beeped the horn and started screaming and swearing.
He then punched his then-partner multiple times, before stopping the car he was illegally driving to punch her with his other hand.
"She tried to put the car into park so she could get out, but you again punched her and started to drive off," Chief Judge Evans said.
"You drove your car head-on into a road sign; the victim may have grabbed the steering wheel out of fear.
"You threatened to kill her and her son if she [told police]."
Others had to help victim
Chief Judge Evans said when the victim managed to get out of the car with her young son in her hands, Cooney punched her in the face.
"She heard her face crack; your punch caused her to drop her son on the road and fall over," he said.
"She may have lost consciousness; you shoved the victim in the front passenger seat of the car … the car started rolling down the hill, you left the scene.
"Another car stopped to assist her."
The victim was taken to the Lyell McEwin Hospital before being transferred to the Royal Adelaide Hospital "due to the severity of her injuries".
When Cooney was arrested, he told police the victim was to blame and he wanted charges laid against her.
Cooney was on suspended sentence
At the time of the offending, Cooney was on a suspended sentence and breached his good behaviour bond.
"Women must feel safe and be safe from such violence," Chief Judge Evans said during sentencing.
"The sentence must recognise the harm to your victim and publicly denounce your offending."
Cooney has been in custody since his arrest in October last year.
Chief Judge Evans accepted his remorse.
He was sentenced to three years and seven days in prison with a non-parole period of one year and nine months.
Given his time already served in prison, he will be eligible for parole in July next year.
