Former MMA fighter Dan Hyatt sentenced over emotional, physical abuse of girlfriends

Daniel James Hyatt, 29, was remanded in November last year after being charged with multiple counts of common assault against his teenage girlfriend.

The former professional mixed martial arts fighter was also charged with emotionally intimidating and abusing the mother of his young son.

After a lengthy hearing in the Launceston Magistrates Court, Hyatt was found guilty of assaulting his then 17-year-old girlfriend in 2016 and 2017.

She was punched, kicked and choked on a number of occasions.

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Hyatt pleaded guilty to assaulting the second victim, in front of their child. 

He slapped her in the face, hit her in the head and sprayed her with capsicum spray. 

During his sentencing on Tuesday, Magistrate Sharon Cure described how Hyatt had texted the second victim, threatening her and her friends.

In one message, he told her he would make her “total suffering, humiliation and demise his project”.

Hyatt went on to date a third woman for about five months, who called the police after he began accusing her of cheating, damaged her car and smashed her phone into his head a number of times.

During his multiple appearances in court, Hyatt admitted to previously abusing drugs, including ketamine, acid, ice, cocaine, speed and steroids.

While in custody, he underwent mental health assessments and was found to suffer from Borderline Personality Disorder. 

Ms Cure acknowledged his substance abuse and battle with mental illness, but said a clear message needed to be sent.

“The continual abuse of partners … will be met with serious punishment,” she said.

He was sentenced separately for the offences against the three women, with a total of 14 months behind bars imposed.

Seven months of that sentence was suspended and it was backdated to November 19, when he was first taken into custody.

He could be released as early as Wednesday.

He will be on probation for two years and will be required to take part in the Family Violence Offender Intervention Program.