Dunedin District Court

AN assault in which his former partner received slight bruising to her neck resulted in community detention, community work and supervision for a man sentenced by Judge Kevin Phillips in the Dunedin District Court yesterday.

Tyrone Peter Daniel Stevens (25), steel moulder, of Dunedin was also to pay $400 emotional harm reparation, the judge said.

Stevens had been convicted of assault with intent to injure after accepting a sentencing indication and admitting the offence.

The summary of facts said Stevens and the victim were at home about 11.45pm on March 27.

Stevens was in bed and, due to a disagreement earlier in the night, asked the victim to sleep in another room.

They argued.

The victim attempted to leave the room.

Stevens followed her into the hallway, grabbed her face and forcefully pushed her against the wall.

The victim tried to defend herself.

Stevens grabbed her by the throat using both hands and held them there for about a minute.

The victim broke free when her parents arrived home and interrupted the incident.

Public defender Andrew Dawson said Stevens accepted he must be dealt with on the fact summary ‘‘although it doesn’t reconcile with his memory’’.

The judge acknowledged it was not a case involving strangulation. If it was there would be a prison sentence, he said. However, there was no allegation of Stevens applying suffocating pressure on the victim’s windpipe, the judge said. As a result of the assault, the victim received slight bruising to her neck.

The judge also said he understood Stevens and the victim had already separated at the time but were living in the same house because they had a child.

Stevens had no prior relevant conviction.

His community detention is for two months (curfewed 11pm9am Mondays to Fridays and 7pm7am Saturdays and Sundays). He is to perform 80 hours’ community work and his supervision is for nine months.

Other convictions

A Kiran Sidney William Hunt (23), employed, of Dunedin, drinkdriving, 650mcg (driving in George St, no headlights on, windscreen obstructed by heavy condensation, hunched over steering wheel as though struggling to see, stated knew he would be over breathalcohol limit but felt OK to drive and had gone to get himself some food), about 11.35pm, June 21, three months’ home detention (curfewed 7.30pm6.30am daily), 120 hours’ community work, disqualified 10 months from September 21 when current suspension ends (zero alcohol provisions when regains licence), not to have interest in any motor vehicle for 12 months. Counsel Jim Takas said Hunt had found fulltime work, was trying to turn his life around, the offending ‘‘a big mistake’’. Judge noted Hunt had one previous drinkdrive conviction, in 2016.

A Damian John Nicholson (29), of Dunedin, careless driving (driving Subaru, approached intersection, went straight through give way and hit a fence beside the Leith River, admitted speeding at the time), 7.15pm, May 1, Dundas St; driving while suspended (driving Harley Davidson on Malvern St, admitted licence was suspended, said he was just going to the shop; defence counsel Deborah Henderson said Nicholson had been the victim of an aggravated robbery last year and was still suffering), 1pm, July 22, Malvern St, fined $600, court costs $130, six months’ disqualification.

A Kyle Matene Beck (22), shearer, breaching protection order in damaging property belonging to protected person, and intentionally damaging vehicle belonging to protected person, Balclutha, February 19 or 20, overall sentence 12 months’ intensive supervision, 100 hours’ community work (cumulative on current term), reparation amounting to $2215.17; breaching community work in failing to report to probation, at Balclutha on February 24, and breaching supervision in failing to report to probation within 72 hours of receiving the sentence, at Balclutha on March 12, 12 months’ intensive supervision (concurrent), supervision cancelled; failing to attend court, July 3, convicted and discharged. Counsel Marie TaylorCyphers said Beck had been in custody for the past month. It had had a salutary effect. Beck had not previously been incarcerated.