The 32-year-old Hobart man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had pleaded guilty to one count of persistent family violence.

The court had been told that the man had been violent on up to a dozen occasions when his partner of 10 years was holding their young son.

Sentencing the man, Justice Stephen Estcourt, acknowledged it was the first sentencing for the crime of persistent family violence and said a substantial period of imprisonment was called for.

"Violent behaviour by men towards women in relationships must be condemned and discouraged," Justice Estcourt said.

"Vulnerable women, such as the complainant, are entitled to the protection of the law against brutal partners, and the community expectation is that such protection will be provided by the courts.

"The complainant was terrified as the defendant had often threatened to hurt her and hospitalise her and each time he hit her, she feared that he would do as he had threatened.

"In the past the defendant had also threatened to slit the complainant's throat if she left him."

Five separate occasions of violence were noted in the sentencing.

"Each of the identified incidents involved vicious and cowardly attacks by the defendant on a woman," Justice Estcourt said.

"In July 2017, the complainant began recording the incidents by photographing her injuries.

"The photographs I have seen attest to numerous occasions between July 2017 and August 2018 when she was severely bruised by the defendant's actions. These included kicking her, punching her in the face, pushing her into something or hitting her, grabbing her by the throat and or grabbing her by the arms or torso.

"On four or five occasions, the defendant picked the complainant up and put her headfirst on to the ground. On these occasions the complainant was unable to cushion her fall with her hands. "

Justice Estcourt said the man had been bullied as a child and suffered anxiety as a result.

"He has had suicidal ideation," he said.

"The relationship with the complainant was an unconventional one.

"There was no family violence until 2014. Life events, including the death of a pet, caused violence to creep into the relationship between the defendant and the complainant. The birth of their son was also stressful. It was suspected that he had cancer and the possibility was something that he has never really recovered from.

"He is remorseful and ashamed and it is put that his plea of guilty is an expression of contrition, which I accept."

The sentence was backdated to when the man was remanded in custody in Ooctober 2018 and he will not be eligible for parole until he has served half his sentence.

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