Dunedin District Court

AN assault charge found proved against him at a recent judgealone trial brought a 35yearold man for sentence before Judge Kevin Phillips in the Dunedin District Court yesterday.

Shannon William Cherrington, employed, had pleaded not guilty to assaulting a woman with intent to injure her. But a hearing resulted in the judge finding the charge proved.

‘‘You said you were acting in self defence. I rejected that,’’ he told Cherrington.

Cherrington and the victim had been in an ‘‘on again off again’’ relationship, the judge said.

The incident happened on February 10. The two were not living together at the time.

About 7am, after being out together the previous night, ‘‘for reasons totally unknown’’ Cherrington pulled the sleeping victim from her bed and dragged her into the kitchen.

As she attempted to get to her feet ‘‘you were so angry with her for some unknown reason’’ you banged her head purposely into a refrigerator’’, the judge told Cherrington.

The victim sustained grazing to her arms and body, the judge noted.

Cherrington was no longer in a relationship with the victim, counsel David McCaskill advised.

Cherrington was also for sentence on convictions for driving while disqualified, in Timaru, about 2pm on March 14; and, with another male, stealing four boxes of bourbon and cola (to a total value of $120) from Henry’s Beer Wine and Spirits, Bishopdale, Christchurch, on March 13.

Cherrington had previous assault and disqualified driving convictions, the judge said.

Allowing him a community based sentence, the judge took into account his employer had taken a positive interest in him, spoke highly of him and had been attending court with him.

For assault with intent to injure, Cherrington was sentenced to four months’ community detention (curfewed 7pm6am daily), 150 hours’ community work (cumulative on his current term), and nine months’ supervision.

He is also to pay $600 emotional harm reparation.

The judge made a protection order in favour of the victim.

Disqualified driving brought two months’ community detention (concurrent) and one year and two months’ disqualification (from December 2 when his current ban ends).

Theft resulted in 50 hours’ community work (concurrent) and an order to pay $120 reparation.