Expartner kidnapped, told to retract complaint
A DUNEDIN man detained and beat his expartner then bombarded her with more than 500 messages to have her withdraw her police complaint, a court has heard.
James Richard Watson (38) was regularly using methamphetamine at the time and described his state as ‘‘out of it’’.
It was an explanation but not an excuse, Judge Michael Turner said.
Watson was convicted of kidnapping, assault in a family relationship, threatening behaviour, dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice, and was jailed for two years, four and ahalf months.
His erratic conduct began in November 2021 when he contacted his former partner, asking to visit.
Despite the woman’s protests, the defendant showed up and immediately launched into a rant, telling her she was selfish for breaking up with him.
‘‘I will slit your throat, you rat,’’ Watson said.
He stood over her with his fist clenched but the violence came two months later.
As Watson drove in Kenmure Rd he saw the victim in a car with her child, the court heard.
When he tried to run her off the road, she pulled over.
The defendant got into her vehicle carrying a large bottle of beer then used it to hit her on the arm.
Watson demanded they go to her home and once they arrived court documents described how he followed her around, not allowing her to be alone.
He even told her to have a shower while he watched.
When the victim made a desperate attempt to leave the house, Watson blocked her, and he later thwarted her attempts to activate a familyharm alarm.
Eventually they went to bed and the defendant allowed her out the next morning.
The victim went to police and Watson was hauled before the court.
He was later granted electronically monitored bail but rather than keep his head down, he used his limited freedom to pressure his ex to change her statement.
She obeyed him and Watson sent the resulting retractions to his lawyer, who in turn took them to police.
However, when police accessed the victim’s phone the extent of the truth was revealed.
Over less than four months Watson had swamped her with 558 calls and messages.
A selection of the communications provided to the court showed how the defendant flipflopped between pleading and threatening.
In March last year Watson said he would send explicit photos of the woman to her friends and family; then just days later he wrote: ‘‘I love u babe and I’m here for u.’’
Judge Turner was surprised to hear that the defendant had since discussed his release from prison and his desire to be in Dunedin, close to the victim.
It demonstrated the magnitude of the man’s sense of entitlement, he said.
Watson, the court heard, had grown up in a broken home and had witnessed domestic violence, which had led to drug and alcohol abuse.
Though he claimed to be motivated to rehabilitate, the judge was sceptical about the legitimacy of that desire.
Watson was banned from driving for a year and a protection order was granted in favour of the victim.