Rhys McAskell pleaded guilty to recklessly causing injury and breaching bail conditions at the Ararat Magistrates' Court on Friday, September 10.

The court was told at 9pm on June 29, 2021, McAskell arrived home in an intoxicated state after visiting the Desi Swag restaurant with a work colleague for dinner.

He began yelling at the victim, his partner at the time, becoming increasingly more aggressive as McAskell went on.

McAskell became physically aggressive, and after attempting to pin the victim down, hit her multiple times in the face.

At 1.30pm the following day the victim attended the Ararat police station, with a bruised and swollen left eye socket.

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Police later arrested McAskell and issued a family violence safety intervention order.

The court was told after McAskell was bailed on July 2, he attempted to contact his partner multiple times via text messages, breaching both the family violence safety order and his own bail conditions.

Defence Lawyer Hollie Lyons argued McAskell was acting "out of character" on the night of the offending and since shown remorse for the attack.

Ms Lyons told the court McAskell had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and provided police with a letter of apology to the victim while on bail.

Magistrate Ronald Saines reprimanded McAskell for his harassment of the victim following the incident.

"I am very concerned about the seriousness of this offending," Mr Saines said.

"It was not just an act of violence, it was offending of follow-up harassment and seeking to control the conduct of another person in defiance of bail conditions.

"It is no mistake you ended up in custody, you are somewhat fortunate it was only for two days - it can often be many weeks before bail."

McAskell was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond without recording a conviction.

Mr Saines warned him about the penalties for reoffending.

"Even though there is not a conviction, there is a record of today's court hearing," Mr Saines said.

"If there is any breach of bail or re-offending then you will be in a wholly different environment. I would expect it would start with a consideration of imprisonment."

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