Ángel 'Pato' Cabrera handed two years in jail for assault on former partner

Argentine golf champion Ángel 'Pato' Cabrera was sentenced to two years prison Wednesday for assaulting his former partner and stealing her mobile phone.

The ruling by a court in the central city of Córdoba was broadcast on television.

The 51 year-old golf star – who won the 2007 US Open and 2009 Masters – was found guilty of striking Cecilia Torres Mana, 37. The two were partners between 2016 and January 2019.

During the trial Torres Mana described incidents of violence against her that were confirmed by witnesses. Video from security cameras also showed Cabrera threatening her.

Prosecutor Laura Battistelli said that it was important that gender violence was taken into consideration, which served as an aggravating factor.

She also called for Cabrera to undergo psychological treatment in order to overcome alcohol addiction.

Cabrera was arrested in Rio de Janeiro in January at Argentina's request. He was extradited to his homeland in early June.

The fallen golf star – one of the most successful Latin Americans to play the sport – maintains his innocence, and Cabrera's lawyer Carlos Hairabedian has vowed to appeal.

The golfer faces other cases of domestic violence, including one filed by his ex-wife and mother of his two children in 2016.

Hairabedian said that his client will likely spend two months in jail before requesting release on bail, given he has already spent eight months behind bars since his arrest in Brazil last year.

– TIMES/AFP