North Tanami Band's bass guitarist jailed for assaulting partner

North Tanami Band bass player Mike Patterson has been sentenced to seven months and two weeks in prison for assaulting his partner. A Northern Territorycourt heard he had four previous aggravated assault convictions. What's next? Patterson is expected to be released from jail in late November, with the remainder of his sentence to besuspended. A member of one of Central Australia's pioneering Aboriginal bands has been jailed for repeatedly punching his partner in the face during an alcohol-fuelled attack. North Tanami Band bass player Mike Patterson, 29, was sentenced in Alice Springs Local Court on Wednesday to seven months and two weeks' imprisonment, suspended after four months. Patterson pleaded guilty to aggravated assault on October 20, following an incident in Tennant Creek on July 31. The charge involved three aggravating circumstances: the woman suffered harm, she was female and Patterson male, and a lighter was involved as a weapon. The court heard Patterson repeatedly punched his partner in the face after suspecting she had taken his alcohol. The woman suffered swelling above her right temple and required medical treatment. "It was a degrading way to treat the partner," Judge Sarah McNamara said. The judge noted Patterson's record had four previous convictions for aggravated assault, all involving female victims. She said domestic violence was "a huge problem in this community" and warned Patterson about its impact on young witnesses. "When you hurt your partner, you are hurting your children," she said. "You are teaching them that this is acceptable conduct." The court heard children were at the house in Tennant Creek when police attended, following the assault. Judge McNamara acknowledged Patterson's cultural and musical contributions but emphasised the need to deter further violence. His sentence was backdated to July 31, when he was taken into custody. Pattersonwill be subject to 12 months of court-imposed conditions, including an alcohol ban and a requirement toparticipate in a men's behaviour change program. A five-year domestic violence order, protecting his partner and children, remains in place.