Attacks on girlfriend net man four months in slammer

Calling Sydney Benwell's behaviour "far from acceptable," a judge sent the young man to jail Monday for repeated attacks on his girlfriend.

"You have pleaded guilty to some serious charges," Ontario Court Justice Robert Villeneuve told the 22-year-old man when he imposed a four-month term of incarceration.

Benwell was convicted of eight offences - three counts of assault, two counts of failing to attend court and single counts of threatening death, forcible confinement and breach of probation.

The domestic violence offences occurred between June 25, 2013 and April 22, 2014.

Villeneuve heard the complainant, who had been dating Benwell on and off since early 2013, gave a video statement to police in May 2014.

She detailed a relationship that had a lot of jealousy, controlling behaviour and alcohol and physical abuse, assistant Crown attorney Nancy Komsa said.

The victim was pregnant, had bruises and had recently broken up with Benwell when she spoke to police, the prosecutor said.

During the relationship, Benwell choked the woman, punched and slapped her across the face, pinned her to the floor by the throat, and threatened to kill her.

One day, the woman, who was battling depression, mentioned something about killing herself, and he choked her for 10 to 15 seconds.

"You think you're depressed and you're going to kill yourself, I'll do it for you," Benwell told the woman, Komsa said.

"This is a serious domestic abuse situation that went on for several months," the Crown said, adding the woman has indicated she is no longer involved with Benwell.

Komsa and defence lawyer Ken Walker jointly recommended that the young man be sentenced to 90 days behind bars for the domestic violence offences and 30 days for missing two court dates.

"This a situation where both people have mental health problems," Walker said.

"You are young. If you are going to have other relationships you have some work to do,"  Villeneneuve told Benwell.

After Benwell does his time, he will be on supervised probation for 12 months, with conditions that he not contact the woman and not be within 25 metres of her residence or any place she may be.

He must undergo assessment and counselling for anger management, substance and alcohol abuse, domestic violence and mental health issues.

"That it is all I can do in 12 months," Villeneuve told him. "We'll see how you make out."

Benwell is prohibited from possessing firearms for five years and must provide a DNA sample for the national database.