Abusive partner jailed

A man who tried to find a fresh start in a new city away from criminal associates has landed back in jail after violently assaulting his partner.

But prison time has allowed Jason Richards to deal with deeprooted problems in his life.

In the Palmerston North District Court yesterday, Richards, 41, was sentenced to seven months’ jail for assaulting his then-partner with intent to injure and twice breaching his release conditions.

The pair moved from New Plymouth to Palmerston North to find a fresh start in life.

Richards’ criminal history extends to 15 pages, with some crimes landing him in jail, and he has gang connections in Taranaki.

Finding work in a new city was tough and the pair were forced to camp in The Esplanade for a time before getting temporary accommodation in a motel.

While living there, in October, Richards’ partner said she was leaving him. He went into a rage at the news, strangling the woman despite her efforts to get away.

He eventually left and was found by police soon after.

In her victim impact statement, which Judge Lance Rowe read from, she was now unemployed and homeless.

She thought she was going to die and never see her children again.

Defence lawyer Jacinda Younger said Richards was now getting counselling for problems he had carried for a long time, but never properly faced.

Ending up in custody awaiting sentence was for the best, and he was now motivated to move on, she said.

The judge noted Richards’ history did not feature violence, but this offending was extremely dangerous. ‘‘A clear message needs to be sent, to men in particular, that if they strangle women then the court will take a very hard approach.’’