Warning of prison

‘‘One transgression and you’re going to prison,’’ Judge Phillips said sentencing Jason Charles Dalwood (29), of Dunedin, to community detention, community work and intensive supervision.

Dalwood had been convicted of a Crimes Act male assaults female offence against his former partner, possessing the Class A controlled drug methamphetamine, and possessing cannabis, on November 21; and intentionally damaging his former partner’s car, on November 27.

In regard to the first incident, the police summary said Dalwood had been staying at the victim’s address for about three days.

On the morning of November 21, while Dalwood was sleeping, the victim found his methamphetamine pipe under the bed covers.

After taking the pipe and smashing it on a fire hearth, the victim then woke him and told him what she had done.

As Dalwood got out of bed, the victim saw in the bed a small plastic bag containing some cloudy rock substance.

Angry, Dalwood pushed her hard with two hands on her chest resulting in her falling on to a couch.

Their 2yearold child was standing in the doorway to the room.

The victim ran towards the back of the house and told Dalwood she was going to ring police.

At the back door, he grabbed her from behind and tried to take her cellphone. He then threw her down and began pushing her in the face.

When the child came into the room and told him to stop it, he did.

Before leaving the address, Dalwood smashed a kitchen cupboard door.

Between leaving and being found by police, Dalwood sent abusive text messages to the victim.

Searching his vehicle, about 1.35pm, police found a bag containing 2.55g of methamphetamine and another bag containing 30g of cannabis.

After an argument with the victim at her address, about 4pm on November 27, Dalwood smashed the left rear passenger’s window of her car with a piece of wood.

Seeking a rehabilitative sentence for Dalwood, public defender Ms Thorburn said his offending was driven by drug issues.

Clearheaded after spending 14 days in custody, he was very ashamed of his behaviour.

Dalwood’s community detention (curfewed 7pm7am daily) is for four months, his community work term is 180 hours, and 18 months’ intensive supervision includes threemonthly judicial monitoring and requirement to undergo a residential drug programme.