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A CENTRAL Victorian man who police claim attempted to force kangaroo faeces into the mouth of one of his sons, and choked another during a Monopoly game, has been convicted and fined $2200. The man in his 40s, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his children, pleaded guilty in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Monday to 11 charges. He was also sentenced for possessing 41 cannabis plants in a hydroponic setup near Bendigo, and a further 226 grams of dried cannabis. A samurai sword was seized during a police raid. The court heard the man was playing football in the backyard with his children, all aged under 13, when an argument started. Prosecutor Sergeant David Somerton said one child was held down by his brother while the man “tried to shove” kangaroo faeces into his mouth. The man denied the claim, and said it was only a threat which he did not carry out. He pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawful assault, however. The court heard the child was “sad and upset” after the incident. He faced a further charge of unlawful assault against another son after choking him during an argument over a game of Monopoly. The incident lasted 10 seconds, and the child was left “struggling for breath”. The man was charged with numerous breaches of intervention orders against his ex-partner, including public outbursts against the woman. Defence counsel Tim Fitzpatrick said the offending was related to a health condition, which resulted in a heart attack in June last year. “This is a man who takes care of his children, takes them camping and to their (sporting) games,” he said. “He accepts that his actions have brought about this reality.” The man no longer has contact with his children. Mr Fitzpatrick said the lack of contact amounted to “extra-curial punishment”, which should be factored into the sentence. Magistrate Sarah Leighfield said violence against children was unacceptable. “Your children have to learn from you and they develop from your actions. The way you behave to your children affects the way they develop,” she said. The man was convicted and fined $2200, must make a $300 donation to the Centre for Non-Violence, and undergo anger management counselling.

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