A 51-year-old man was in the Ashburton District Court for what the judge says was "a very disturbing set of charges”.

The man was charged with impeding breathing (strangulation), wilful damage and threatening grievous bodily harm against his partner.

The incident happened in May when, following an argument, the man grabbed the victim and pushed her against a wall.

He choked and head-butted her in the face, stomped and kneeled on her and asked the victim if she "wanted him to kill her,” judge Campbell Savage read from the summary of facts.

He later smashed her phone, "no doubt to cut her off from the outside world”.

The victim was left with a black eye and chipped tooth as a result of the attack.

The man’s lawyer said alcohol had been the catalyst for his anger.

"He knows that it’s alcohol, he knows he has acted in a way that he didn’t recognise himself.

"The only reason this occurred, it seems, is the alcohol. It’s not an excuse.”

Judge Savage said strangulation charges in particular were taken seriously in New Zealand.

"An analysis of partner violence found that strangulation was one of the indicators of worse things happening downstream.”

The victim had chosen to reconcile with the man following the incident, which Judge Savage said was significant.

"Your partner sees enough in you to forgive you.”

The man’s lawyer said that his relationships with his children were healthy and that he was "obviously quite a good dad”.

The police submitted that an imprisonment period of three years and six months was appropriate, but reductions applied for early guilty pleas and rehabilitation prospects kept the man out of jail.

He received an 11-month home detention sentence and must pay $1,532.34 for damaging the victim’s phone.

He was also convicted and discharged on separate drug-related charges and would be subject to an alcohol interlock and zero alcohol licence for a drink driving charge.

• Law and Order, page 10.