Glace Bay man sentenced for attacking former partner

SYDNEY — A Glace Bay man was sentenced Monday to serve a sixmonth jail term after admitting he assaulted a former girlfriend on three occasions.

Steven Geza Anda, 26, of West Street pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon (a laptop computer), assault causing bodily harm and assault. The offences occurred in November in Glace Bay.

Prosecutor Shane Russell said police responded to a home after a woman was heard screaming for help.

When police arrived, they found the female in the home and there was blood on the floor.

The woman explained she had packed her bags and was leaving the home when Anda lashed out at her.

The woman told police Anda kicked her in the stomach and face, with his boots on, and also held a knife to her throat, threatening to kill her family if she called police.

The woman suffered a concussion in the attack and needed five stitches to close a wound on her head.

She also reported two other incidents of assault in which Anda hit her in the head with a glass and later grabbed her around the neck and hit her with a broom handle.

In another incident, Anda struck the woman by throwing a laptop at her.

Russell noted that Anda does have a prior record along with an alcohol abuse problem.

He said Anda grew up in a home with alcohol abuse and domestic violence, and appears to be continuing the cycle.

In making his brief address to the court, Anda apologized for his actions.

Provincial court Judge David Ryan noted that Anda is inflicting the horrors of his youth on others by continually abusing alcohol and then becoming violent with this partners.

“You and alcohol should never mix,” said the judge.

Ryan imposed a 10-month sentence but credited Anda with serving four months on remand.

He also ordered Anda to complete an 18-month probation period during which he is to refrain from alcohol and all drugs not prescribed him by a doctor. He is also to make himself available for all counselling as recommended by his probation officer.

Anda is also banned from possessing firearms for 10 years and must submit a DNA sample to the national registry.