Custodial dad charged with assaulting kids (Australia)

Notice that this is a custodial dad that stripped the mother of her kids for unspecified reasons. But his abuse and assault of these kids is excused because he was "stressed."

UNNAMED DAD

http://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/dad-assaulted-children/1642069/

Dad assaulted children

30th Nov 2012 6:00 AM

A CENTRAL Highlands father has faced court on four counts of assault occasioning bodily harm after disciplining his children.

One of the children went to school visibly upset and with a large scratch on her neck. When asked what happened by the deputy principal she said, "Dad told me not to tell anyone".

The girl also told a friend she had a large number of bruises on her upper leg. That friend told their parents, who told the school, the Mackay Magistrate's Court heard. The girl spoke with officers from the Mackay Child Protection and Investigation Unit on September 12 this year.

She told them "her father had belted her and her two brothers with his work belt, which has a pocket knife attached", prosecutor Bimal Raut said.

The children were being punished for removing posts from a nearby building site about two weeks earlier.

The incident left a large bruise on her upper right leg, which was still sore and visible two weeks later, Mr Raut said. The scratch on her neck occurred after her father grabbed her by the shirt front during an argument about eating breakfast. His wedding ring caused a five centimetre by one centimetre scratch, he said. A button was also ripped off her school shirt when he grabbed her.

The girl also watched her father strike her younger brother the night before, on September 11, with his work belt, which left a large bruise on his upper left leg. The boy had been playing in a room and a curtain was damaged, Mr Raut said.

The man pleaded guilty to the charges. Defence solicitor Robert Kern, of Wright, Wright and Condie, said the 32-year-old had no similar convictions.

The children came into his care in June 2010 after being removed from their mother's custody. The man described the children as "rowdy", Mr Kern said.

It had been a stressful time for the man, whose partner had given birth in July this year, Mr Kern said. The man planned to participate in anger management courses. The matter was adjourned