In a YMCA car park, a woman turned away from her ex-partner to pack up following their child's gymnastics class.
What happened next occurred in front of their three young children and CCTV cameras.
After a conversation about custody became heated, the man "king hit" the unsuspecting woman in the head when she turned away to pack the car.
In CCTV footage shown in court, the woman then stumbles backwards before falling to the ground in front of their startled children.
The man then stands over his ex-partner and punches her another seven times in the face.
"It's a profoundly challenging experience I can tell you, despite how long I have been doing the job, to watch a video like that," Judge Ian Dearden said in Brisbane District Court on Monday.
Two of the children ran over to their mother after she got to her feet in the November 2022 assault north of Brisbane.
The other child fell out of the back of the vehicle and onto the car park's concrete floor.
"The violence was gratuitous and unprovoked," crown prosecutor Daniel Sampey said.
The woman and two children sought assistance from a nearby shopkeeper.
The man picked up the other child, eventually handing him to the shopkeeper before leaving.
The woman suffered eye socket and cheekbone fractures, requiring surgery.
Permanent plates and screws were inserted in her face.
She would have suffered a serious facial disfigurement if her injuries were left untreated, the court heard.
A picture of the woman's facial injuries were tendered in court on Monday.
"I looked at it, I am obliged to, and then I put it face down because I actually cannot cope with that photograph on my bench looking up at me," Judge Dearden said.
The man - now aged 39 - is not an Australian citizen and is at risk of deportation, the court heard.
"The offences are unforgivable," the defence barrister said.
Judge Dearden later said: "I couldn't put it in any better terms myself.
"You've not only burned those relationships with your children, you've burned the relationship with your ex-partner, and you've effectively burned your relationship with this country.
"And all because you responded in a most appalling and despicable and disgraceful way to whatever it was that triggered you."
The man had "significant heartbreak and grief" in his life with traumatic events causing him distress that had underpinned some of his actions, the court heard.
"But instead of going out and finding a tree and belting that you have belted a real life human being and you've caused very significant injuries," Judge Dearden said.
The man pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm and was sentenced to three years in jail, to be suspended after serving 10 months.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
