Teen tries to block assault out

A 39-year-old Oamaru man has been sent to prison for indecently assaulting a 13-year-old girl and assaulting his ex-partner.

The man appeared in the Timaru District Court on Tuesday for sentencing on six assault charges and one charge of performing an indecent act on a young person.

Appearing via video link, Judge Allan Roberts sentenced the man to two-and-a-half-years in prison for assaulting his ex-partner on seven occasions between 2009 and 2015, and performing a sex act on her 13-year-old daughter.

Tearfully reading her victim impact statement to the court, the mother described meeting her former partner. She said he was ‘‘charming’’ and the ‘‘man of her dreams’’, and said she could see a future together. ’’I believe you were the person I could spend the rest of my life with.’’

She said his behaviour over the years had eroded her self confidence and ’’destroyed’’ relationships with some family members, and left her with significant financial stress.

Speaking of the occasion when he indecently assaulted daughter, the mother said she was still traumatised. ’’I remember every detail clearly and it haunts me every day.’’

She took everything he gave her, including physical assault and verbal abuse, until she discovered him touching her daughter’s breast and masturbating.

As a result, her daughter has trust issues, anxiety, and is worried for her safety. It also affected her sleep patterns.

The daughter has not spoken about the incident. ’’She is scared to talk about it, and is very angry.’’

‘‘As a family, we have lost so much.’’

Her daughter’s impact statement was read out by crown prosecutor Nyssa Willcocks.

In the statement, the daughter said as a result of the man touching her breasts, she had lost confidence in herself and tried to block the incident out.

Summing up, Judge Roberts called the man a bully and said the mother had been ‘‘brutalised repeatedly’’ and rendered ‘‘senseless to it all’’ during their relationship.

He said during the years, there were occasions when she was punched in the head, and one occasion where she was pushed and ‘‘manhandled’’.

His manifestation for propensity for violence would have continued ‘‘cycle unbroken’’ were it not for the incident indecently assaulting her young daughter.

‘‘The impact on the young girl, that is likely to be long term and significant.’’

Roberts mentioned the man’s previous convictions of assault of which he had expressed some remorse and noted he showed long term issues with alcohol and drug dependency.

He also had a history of violence with women who he shared a relationship with, Roberts said.

In summing up, Roberts said the breach of trust in relation to those involved was significant.

‘‘They were supposed to look to you for support and basic respect.’’