Prison likely for attack on partner

A man who battered his partner in a violent rage had been given an ultimatum earlier that night – go out drinking with friends or be a part of his child’s life.

Samuel Clint Andersen, 22, chose to go out drinking, and when he returned drunk, his partner locked the door and refused to let him in.

But he refused to leave and smashed the glass panes in the door in an attempt to get in, a police summary said.

A neighbour heard screams and called police.

Glass from the door fell in the woman’s eye, causing her to step backwards and Andersen reached through the glass to unlock the door.

The infant was on a couch in the lounge.

He stormed in and grabbed the woman by the hair, pulled her to the ground and kicked her in the face.

Her mouth split open and started bleeding profusely.

The woman was disoriented and trying to crawl away as Andersen repeatedly punched and kicked her in the head.

Eventually Andersen left her and went into the lounge, but the woman was worried about their child, and followed him in.

Andersen picked up a metal pushscooter and held it above his head threateningly, causing the woman to suffer an anxiety attack and fall to the floor, unable to breathe.

Andersen stood over her and threatened to kill her. ‘‘When I get out of jail I’ll slit your throat,’’ he said.

The woman blacked out.

When she came to, Andersen said he was ‘‘on the run’’ and taking their child.

He picked up the infant and had started to leave when police arrived at their home in Riversdale, in Blenheim.

There was a standoff in the driveway as Andersen yelled and refused to give the infant over to police, a police summary said.

Police arrested Andersen and he repeatedly threatened to kill a constable, saying he would hunt him down and kill him when he got out of jail.

His partner was covered in blood and had a black eye, a split and swollen lip and a broken front tooth.

When spoken to by police, Andersen said he was in a fit of rage, but could not remember the April 28 attack.

Andersen admitted assault with intent to injure, two counts of threatening behaviour, assaulting police, and wilful damage at the Blenheim District Court on Monday.

His partner sought $440 in reparation and a protection order.

His lawyer Kent Arnott said Andersen was willing to try and make amends with the woman at a restorative justice meeting.

He asked for a pre-sentencing report to see if home detention was suitable.

Judge Tony Zohrab referred the case to restorative justice and ordered the report, but said the start point for sentencing would likely be prison.

He remanded Andersen in custody to July 9.