A remorseless former AFL player who smashed his ex-girlfriend's face into a kitchen wall and threatened to kill her has been jailed, then bailed, all before lunch.
Former Carlton midfielder, Nick Stevens, is fighting his conviction and sentence for 12 charges for abusing his former partner, including inflicting serious injury, making threats to kill and five counts of assault.
In one instance in 2013 he smashed his victim's head against the exterior wall of her parents' house, in another he smashed her face into the kitchen wall in the Victorian home the pair shared.
The attack left a permanent scar on her cheek and, after police laid charges, he called twice her and threatened her again.
In sentencing on Wednesday, Magistrate Nunzio La Rosa said Stevens and the woman had been dependent upon each other, and in love.
However, the 2,500 text messages sent to the woman by Stevens in 2013, in breach of an intervention order, showed he was manipulative.
"It became evident that you would not hesitate to manipulate the victim both psychologically and emotionally," Magistrate La Rosa said.
He said Stevens had shown no remorse for his actions.
Stevens, 35, was sentenced to eight months prison and ordered to complete a 12-month community corrections order that includes 90 hours of community service.
He was also fined $400.
"Violence by men against women, particularly in a domestic setting, should be dealt with in the strongest possible terms," Magistrate La Rosa said.
Within 35 minutes of Stevens being taken into custody, defence barrister Serge Petrovich had filed an appeal and bail application.
Stevens is appealing his conviction, his sentence and the sentence for the intervention order breach.
Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Mark Sontag opposed bail but Magistrate La Rosa said there was no reason not to grant it.
Stevens was released and will return to court in April for a directions hearing.
Speaking outside the Ringwood Magistrates Court, Stevens said he was disappointed with the outcome but he respected the court's decision.
Stevens played 231 AFL games for Port Adelaide and Carlton from 1998 to 2009.
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