Contract assault planned in prison

A SEX offender with a history of violence took out a contract beating on his former partner from behind bars, a court has heard.

James Phillip Davis (28) was jailed for two and ahalf years in July 2017 for sexual offending against a 13yearold girl and a raft of other charges.

Stuff reported at the time the defendant admitted grabbing the victim’s bottom at a gathering as well as publishing an intimate visual recording on a social media website and exposing a young person to indecent material through a series of messages.

His counsel at the time told the Christchurch District Court that Davis had mentalhealth issues that had been exacerbated by synthetic cannabis use.

On March 17 — just months into his prison sentence — the defendant made a phone call lasting 91 seconds, the Dunedin District Court heard this week.

In it he asked a female associate (who also had convictions for violence) if she would assault his expartner for cash.

The victim had a protection order in place to shield her from Davis and the call constituted a breach.

In a statement before the court, the woman said she felt violated when she heard about the violent plan.

‘‘She knew what you were capable of,’’ Judge Michael Crosbie said.

The incident, he said, was particularly troubling when considered alongside Davis’ most recent parole report.

The October report, provided to the Otago Daily Times, notes the prisoner had completed a Stopping Violence programme but had been informed the drugaddiction and sexoffender treatment was unavailable.

‘‘He told us that he did have serious anger problems . . . and he was scared of his anger and potential violence to others,’’ panel convener and Parole Board chairman Sir Ron Young said.

‘‘He thought he had the capacity to be seriously violent.’’

Davis’ risk of harm was classed as ‘‘very high’’ but Sir Ron said that was not completely the inmate’s fault.

‘‘We think to some degree Mr Davis has been let down in prison in terms of rehabilitation,’’ he said.

Davis was due to be seen by the board again in April but that may now be pushed further out.

Judge Crosbie added nine months to his prison term for the protectionorder breach.