A real estate agent who attacked a woman with a samurai sword and repeatedly punched another while high on a cocktail of drugs and alcohol has been spared time behind bars.
Sydney realtor Karl Adon Howard was on Friday sentenced to a 27-month intensive corrections order, which he will serve in the community.
Judge Antony Townsden placed strict conditions on Howard including that he stay off alcohol and drugs, undergo supervision and complete a domestic violence program.
He must also perform 250 hours of community service.
The 46-year-old earlier pleaded guilty to lesser charges of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm and assault.
The two women, then aged 27 and 29, were at Howard’s Annandale home in February 2021 for an informal gathering where they were drinking and watching television.
Howard forcibly kissed and choked one woman before punching her in the head four times after taking a cocktail of Viagra, cocaine and valium.
He struck the other woman with a samurai sword after she attempted to intervene, leaving her with a deep cut to her arm.
Defence barrister Matthew Johnston SC on Friday urged the judge not to impose more jail time given Howard had already spent time behind bars, in rehabilitation and on strict bail.
“(Howard has) continued to improve and engage, but we accept there is more work to be done,” he said.
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“Obviously there is a need for ongoing supervision in relation to drug and alcohol use.”
The former principal of Ray White Balmain had made a reparation payment of $225,000 to one of the victims, Parramatta District Court heard.
Howard was arrested in February 2021 and remained in custody until he was granted bail almost a year later.
He also spent 80 days as an inpatient while undergoing treatment for drug and alcohol addiction.
Townsden took that period into account as part of the more than a year Howard spent in pre-sentence custody.
He also considered the impact on Howard’s mental health and prospects of rehabilitation if he were to be returned to prison and lose access to support services.
“I am satisfied the offender’s risk of reoffending is low and his rehabilitation is best served by the conditions imposed by an intensive corrections order,” he said.
If Howard breaches any of the conditions imposed while serving his sentence he will immediately be taken into custody.
