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A dual Olympic rowing medallist who entered his ex-wife's home wearing rubber gloves and assaulted her has avoided further jail time.
WARNING: This story contains details of family violence and assault
Simon Burgess, 57, pleaded guilty to one count of assault, three counts of breaching a family violence order and one count of damaging property.
The court heard the assault in a house in Franklin, in Tasmania's Huon Valley, has had a significant impact on the victim.
Burgess entered the woman's house at about 8pm on December 2 last year in contravention of a family violence order.
The woman was in her bedroom at the time, and the court heard Burgess straddled her and slapped her to the head eight times.
Magistrate Andrew McKee said the woman was pleading with him to stop.
"The slaps usually followed her saying something that you did not like or agree with," he said.
The court was told Burgess pulled a piece of paper from him pocket and told the woman "you're going to choke on this", which she assumed was a letter from her solicitor regarding the potential sale of a family farm.
Burgess punched a hole in the wall above her head.
She struck him to the head with a glass bowl, and was able to escape the house and get help from a passing motorist.
Burgess was arrested and interviewed, telling police he had not read the family violence order and described it as "bogus".
Burgess (centre) pictured during his trial. ( ABC News: Luke Bowden )
Magistrate McKee said this comment was indicative of Burgess' attitude towards the order, and the assault was intended to strike fear into the victim.
"Your behaviour was designed to exert some level of control or physical dominance over her as a result of receiving correspondence from her solicitor regarding the potential sale of that family farm," he said.
"Behaviours such as this undermines public confidence in the capacity of family violence orders to provide protection to victims of family violence."
Simon Burgess represented Australia at several Olympic Games, including Athens in 2004. (AAP: Julian Smith)
Burgess was described in court as remorseful, was embarrassed about the effect of his conduct on his wider family, had attended a men's behaviour program and a psychiatrist, and multiple people in the community provided positive character references.
Burgess represented Australia at three Olympics, winning a silver medal twice, and captaining the men's rowing team in 2004.
He spent seven days in custody after his arrest.
Magistrate McKee said the time in custody had "motivated [Burgess] not to reoffend".
He was convicted and sentenced to 90 days' prison, 83 days of which was suspended for 18 months, provided he not commit any further offences punishable by prison.
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