Dunedin District Court

‘‘THE major victim wants you to be held accountable,’’ Judge Kevin Phillips said while sentencing a man he described as ‘‘a recidivist domestic violence offender’’.

‘‘I think I can do that with a sentence which will be much more difficult than being sent to prison,’’ the judge told Kierren Raymond Haggerty (32), beneficiary, of Mosgiel.

Haggerty was before the Dunedin District Court last week convicted of four Crimes Act male assaults female offences against a woman during their relationship from mid2014 to early 2016, and five associated charges of intentional damage.

A further conviction, relating to another woman with whom he had been in a relationship, was for breaching a protection order on May 31June 1 this year.

Haggerty was sentenced to nine months’ home detention (with six months’ postdetention conditions) and 200 hours’ community work.

While subject to the sentence he is not to purchase, possess or consume alcohol or any form of illicit substance; and he is not to communicate with or contact either victim.

He is also to pay $1000 reparation (at $30 a week by attachment order on his benefit).

And the judge made a protection order in favour of the major victim.

Reviewing the facts, the judge said Haggerty stayed at the major victim’s address during their relationship. Ongoing verbal and physical arguments between them often led to Haggerty assaulting the victim or damaging property in the house.

In an argument at home on October 22, Haggerty pushed the victim into the laundry and put his fingers down her throat causing her to cough up blood which he then wiped on her face.

About two months later, on December 30, during an argument after they had been drinking, Haggerty grabbed the victim and punched her in the head.

On March 14, 2015, Haggerty became annoyed with the victim when they were drinking at home.

After pushing over the victim’s television, which broke, he continued his rage outside the back door where he smashed a sheet of polycarbonate sheeting before returning inside and grabbing the victim, ripping her dress. He also hit the left side of her face, resulting in bruising.

On or about July 1 that year, they had a series of arguments.

In one argument Haggerty hit the victim once on the arm and leg with a child’s plastic cricket bat.

Reparation for intentional damage, between December 30, 2014 and March 13, 2016, amounted to $1000.

The protection order offence, against the second victim, concerned calls made by Haggerty to the victim in a period of about 30 minutes. He demanded to know where she was and verbally abused her, causing her to feel anxious and worried, the judge said.

Imposing penalty, he told Haggerty ‘‘any breach of the sentences will result in you being resentenced’’.