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Our client was a young disadvantaged man of Aboriginal background with a history of drug use and physical abuse, whose matter was referred to us by Legal Aid. He was due to be sentenced for a violent breach of AVO and common assault against his ex-partner, as well as some drugs and property offences. Despite the common law presumption that our client should be sent to jail for violent breach of an AVO, we persuaded to magistrate to adopt a more lenient course, citing our client’s deprived background growing up in Western NSW and in public housing in inner-city Sydney. He was ordered to perform community service and put on a number of good behaviour bonds.

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