A Canberra man who raped his wife in front of their young child has been sentenced to more than two years behind bars.
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A jury found the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, guilty in March of sex without consent and an act of indecency.
In sentencing the man, Acting Justice David Robinson said it must be clear to the offender sex was a matter of choice, and not subjugation.
His wife, who he wed overseas in an arranged marriage, went to bed about 11pm one day in January last year, court documents say.
She usually shared the room with their three-year-old child, while her husband usually shared another room with their nine-year-old.
Her husband entered the room and tried to have sex with her, despite her continuing to say "no" to his advances, the court heard.
He then slapped her across the face, causing her to cry.
At one point, the woman called for her son, who came in, turned the light on and asked what was happening before leaving the room.
After further advances, the woman bit her husband on the shoulder and scratched his face. He threatened her and her family.
He left, but returned about midnight and forced her to have sex.
The next morning, he sent her a text saying, "I am feeling very bad and sad so so sorry".
Acting Justice Robinson said although he found the message a sincere expression of remorse, the man had since not acknowledged guilt.
The man's wife was entitled to feel safe in her relationship, he said.
"It must be clear to the offender, and to like-minded offenders, that under Australian law, with which we are presently concerned, engagement in sexual relations is a matter of choice and is not a matter of subjugation."
And it was "of concern" the violence took place in front of children.
"First, a three-year-old child was present in the bedroom even though that child was asleep. Second, part of the confrontation was overheard by and took place in the presence of the nine-year-old child who observed it," he said.
Acting Justice Robinson sentenced the man to an aggregate four years' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of two years and two months.
The man will be eligible for parole in May 2018.
