Drunk led Woman sentenced for assaulting partner

AFTER a period free of alcohol, a woman decided to end her abstinence and ‘‘see how it worked out’’.

It did not go well.

Marata Teua (29), of Balclutha, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday, having pleaded guilty to assault.

The drinking began on the evening of August 18 when she was living with her partner in Lawrence.

There was a spat with the man, which resulted in him leaving the address and another occupant calling police.

Officers tried to unravel what had happened but struggled to get ‘‘a full narrative’’ without the input of the victim.

When police left the home, the man returned in order to gather his possessions.

Teua was outside next to an open fire.

The argument sparked up again and she picked up a burning branch.

Teua flicked hot embers from the bough at her partner, which ended up hitting the front of his shirt.

Her partner grabbed the charred branch to stop any further attack but the defendant resor ted to other means.

First Teua headbutted the victim, next she punched him several times in the face and she finished by throwing cans at him, one of which struck him in the nose.

When police returned to the house, the picture was a little clearer.

Teua admitted her behaviour was ‘‘a problem’’ when she consumed alcohol.

‘‘She had abstained from alcohol for quite some time and had on this night decided to try again to see how it worked out,’’ court documents said.

Counsel Meg Scally said her client was aware of her shortcomings and was motivated to address them.

The relationship had endured and the pair, who had been together for nine years, were committed to each other, the court heard.

Judge John Macdonald said Teua had an array of convictions to her name but it was the first for assaulting her partner.

He described the incident as ‘‘a nasty assault of its type’’ and expressed surprise the victim only sustained minor injuries.

Teua was sentenced to nine months’ supervision and 75 hours’ community work.