Ex, friends manipulated

A manipulative man who abused his ex-partner, then persuaded his new partner and a friend to lie about it, has been chewed out by a judge for trying to blame his offending on others.

Warren Neil Johnson, 47, was sentenced in the Palmerston North District Court last week to 26 months’ jail for offences against his ex-partner.

Getting a prison term greater than two years meant it could not be turned into home detention, but Judge Lance Rowe said that would not have happened because it would not adequately protect the public from Johnson.

The Palmerston North man’s first offence involved breaching a protection order his ex-partner had taken out against him in 2016.

Another altercation took place, during which he punched her in the face and slammed a car door on her arm.

He then enlisted his new partner and a friend to lie to police, providing him with an alibi.

Those statements to police were part of the reason why Johnson was bailed after his arrest, but led to him being guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The judge was not impressed.