Facebook threats to ex-partner
A Taranaki man has pleaded guilty to pursuing his ex-partner on social media and bombarding her with disturbing messages.
Over the course of five months, Braden Gregory Healey repeatedly tried to contact his former girlfriend after the pair ended a six-year-long relationship earlier this year. Not content with that, Healey also threatened a friend of the victim and sent offensive texts about the woman to her sister and threatened to put ‘‘a hit’’ out on another man who socialised with the victim.
The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to charges of criminal harassment, using offensive language and threatening to kill during his appearance in the New Plymouth District Court. During yesterday’s hearing, Detective Sergeant Dave MacKenzie withdrew a charge of causing harm by posting a digital communication after Healey pleaded guilty to the other offending. The summary of facts outlined the lengths Healey went to in order to get the attention of his expartner.
The content sent by Healey was described as ‘‘disturbing’’ and the vast quantities of messages sent via Facebook and Instagram were all aimed at trying to re-establish contact with the victim.
Healey would often resort to using offensive and threatening language, directed at the victim, her friends and family.
On May 8, Healey found out another man had been socialising with his former partner. After hearing this, the defendant sent a barrage of texts to the man threatening to put a ‘‘hit’’ out on him.
Between June 15-16, after Healey’s contact with his former partner was thwarted when she removed her details off social media, he started to text the woman’s sister instead. The texts were often degrading about the victim’s body, the summary said.
Judge Garry Barkle convicted Healey and remanded him on bail until sentencing on August 18. ❚ In another case the court heard how the victim of a hammer attack had to shield his face with his hands in order to ward off the blows. Eli Kenneth Button attacked the man in broad daylight and called him a ‘‘nark’’. Button was in his car and waiting to turn left onto Junction Rd when he noticed the victim, who had stopped behind him at about 1.20pm on March 6.
Button watched the victim complete a u-turn and pull over to the side of the road in order to make a phone call, Detective Sergeant Dave MacKenzie told the court during a hearing yesterday.
‘‘The defendant followed the victim and parked his vehicle, deliberately cutting off the victim,’’ MacKenzie said.
Button grabbed a hammer, got out of his car and went up to the man, abusing him, he said.
The defendant swung the hammer once and struck the victim’s windscreen, causing it to shatter. He then smashed in the driver’s side window.
‘‘Fearing for his safety the victim leaned over towards the passenger seat as the defendant continued to swing the hammer at the victim a number of times,’’ MacKenzie said.
As the victim put his hands up to cover his face, Button swung the hammer again and hit the man’s right hand and fingers.
Button then left the scene, but was found a short time later in Stratford, where he was arrested.
As a result of the assault, the victim received a cut to his right finger which needed treatment. MacKenzie said the damage to the victim’s car totalled $414. During his appearance Button pleaded guilty to a charge of wilful damage and assault with a weapon.
Barkle convicted the 41-year-old and ordered a pre-sentence report be prepared ahead of sentencing on September 20.