What a welcome

After living outside of New Zealand for years, a man ended up spending some of his time back on home soil behind bars. On Thursday, the New Plymouth District Court heard how Darryn Andrew Hedley was arrested when he returned to the country on a historical charge of breaching the terms of a protection order, an offence which dated back to December 2006.Lawyer Paul Keegan said Hedley had been living out of the country for about nine years and was charged not long after he got back. This included a short stay in custody for the 42-year-old. ‘‘He spent a weekend inside,’’ Keegan said.

The summary of facts said a final protection order against Hedley was granted in April 2006 and he had been convicted six previous times for breaching it. Between December 2006 and early February 2007, Hedley contacted his former partner, actions which were again in breach of the order. He phoned the woman several times a day, often about midnight, and would hang up when she answered. ‘‘On other occasions the defendant would drive past the victim’s address and those addresses of her girlfriends she was visiting,’’ the summary of facts said.

Detective Sergeant Dave MacKenzie said he understood Hedley and his former partner had resolved their issues in the intervening years. After pleading guilty to the protection order breach, Hedley was convicted and discharged.