Dunedin District Court

‘‘THE position of the victim had been made very clear to you,’’ Judge Kevin Phillips said, jailing a Balclutha man who breached a protection order by text messaging the protected person.

Dion William Frew (40) was for sentence in the Dunedin District Court yesterday on convictions for admitted offences of breaching the order by sending a text message to the protected person on March 21, and sending her a number of text messages on March 24.

The police summary said the victim was granted a protection order against Frew in 2004.

The two were in a relationship until March 19 this year but lived at separate addresses.

On March 20, the victim decided to end her relationship with Frew.

After doing so she received a barrage of text messages and phone calls from him.

On March 21, at 12.22am, the victim was at a police station talking to an officer about the situation when Frew called her on her cellphone. She gave the phone to the officer, who spoke to Frew, telling him the protection order was being fully invoked and not to contact her in any way.

Frew ended the call abruptly. The victim was still at the police station talking to the officer when Frew text messaged her about eight minutes later. The message was not threatening but in blatant breach of the order.

Over the next few days, Frew continued to call the victim and send her messages.

Between midnight and 4pm on March 24, Frew rang the victim’s cellphone four times and sent her 12 text messages.

Spoken to, he said the protection order was just a piece of paper and he would keep contacting her.

Counsel Kate Andersen said Frew was unable at the time to accept the relationship was over. He now understood it had ended and that he could not have contact with the victim.

On the March 24 offence, Frew was sentenced to four months’ jail (with six months’ release conditions to follow) and on the earlier matter, two months’ jail (concurrent).

He had previous convictions for breaching a protection order.

Other convictions

Tyler Mason Collins (19), of Dunedin, drinkdriving, 726mcg (driving on Brockville Rd; stopped at intersection with Kaikorai Valley Rd; making right turn, accelerated heavily on wet road, resulting in vehicle sliding out of control, going on to footpath and crashing through wooden fence before coming to rest on edge of Kaikorai stream), about 11.10pm, March 17, 90 hours’ community work, disqualified eight months.

Joshua Antony Tell (20), student, of Dunedin, drinkdriving, 726mcg (stopped at check point), Malcolm St, about 10.55pm, March 11, fined $725, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

Pierre Alexander Rubio (29), on working holiday from France, drinkdriving, 449mcg (stopped at checkpoint), Malcolm St, about 10.50pm, March 11, fined $450, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

JordanLeigh Clark Ramsey (20), of Dunedin, three charges disqualified driving (Hinds, January 2; Milton, February 4; King Edward St, March 24), overall sentence 240 hours’ community work, disqualified 12 months from February 2, 2018 when current ban ends, not to have interest in any motor vehicle for 12 months.

Jamie Stuart Kelly (40), of Dunedin, breaching release condition (failed to report to probation), January 20, sentence deferred six months.

Dean Antony St John (45), bar manager, of Dunedin, Crimes Act male assaults female offence against woman known to him (victim charged from same incident dealt with by diversion, court heard), September 24, 120 hours’ community work, nine months’ supervision (includes requirement to undergo any anger management counselling considered appropriate by probation), protection order in favour of victim; intentionally damaging internal door, 40 hours’ community work, reparation $340. Public defender Andrew Dawson said St John attending Stopping Violence, had done 13 sessions; no convictions since 1994.

Michael Grant Kuiti (18), presser, of Balclutha, Crimes Act assault (outside Hotel South Otago after refused entry because intoxicated; took exception to a male being refused entry, pushed his way into discussion before running off; as result of male being refused entry, he and two security guards ended up falling on to footpath; while one security guard lying on footpath unable to defend himself, Kuiti punched him once in head then ran away), about 2.30am, January 29, 100 hours’ community work, $400 emotional harm reparation.

Rebecca Janet O’SullivanWebb (20), waitress, of Dunedin, intentionally damaging iPhone 5 (O’SullivanWebb and victim were friends for a number of years; victim in car playing game on cellphone with car window down; defendant approached, had conversation, became angry, yelled at victim, reached inside, grabbed victim’s cellphone from her, threw it on to ground with force, causing it to smash), nine months’ supervision (special condition to undergo any anger management course, as directed by probation). Counsel Jo Turner said O’SullivanWebb remorseful, paid reparation in full, had no previous convictions.

Keren Paula Fitzsimmons (41), of Dunedin, trespass (was stopped at checkout at Centre City New World while trying to make purchase; defence counsel Rhona Daysh said her client an alcoholic), March 26, 40 hours’ community work.