Former All Black Guildford drunkenly assaulted woman

HAMILTON: Former All Black Zac Guildford has lost a monthslong appeal to keep his name secret after punching a woman in the face so hard she still has breathing issues.

Guildford was lambasted by Judge Robert Spear in the Hamilton District Court in January after being sentenced on a charge of male assaults female for the drunken incident on December 20, 2019.

The 11game All Black veteran had been pushing for suppression due to a possible rugby contract in Western Australia.

He appealed to the High Court in February, but in a decision released last month Justice Paul Davison dismissed both appeals and gave him a 20working day extension on suppression.

At his sentencing, he was given two years’ intensive supervision, to be reviewed after 12 months.

Guildford is no stranger to controversy and has been open about his struggles with drugs, alcohol and depression since his All Blacks debut in 2009.

His latest incident stems from a night out drinking in a Taradale, Napier, bar with friends just before Christmas in 2019.

In a state dubbed ‘‘grossly intoxicated’’ by Judge Spear, the sportsman was offered a ride home by associates and jumped in the back seat of the car.

A woman in the front passenger seat turned to say something when, without any warning, he punched her in the face, which Judge Spear said was ‘‘a savage blow’’ that left her bloodied and bruised.

Thirteen months on, she still suffered from issues breathing through her nose, the judge said.

Questioned by police at the time, Guildford said he had not realised he had punched a woman.

‘‘What that tells me,’’ Judge Spear said at sentencing, ‘‘is that you were so grossly intoxicated that you didn’t even [realise] who was in the car with you and that brings me to what I would consider to be one of the central factors in this case and that is your inability to control your drinking and control your behaviour when you have been drinking.’’

Judge Spear noted that once Guildford had sobered up he was remorseful.

Guildford has been living with his grandparents in Featherston and working in mental health.

He has also attended several counselling sessions.

In denying name suppression, Judge Spear said he ‘‘could see no good reason’’ why it shouldn’t be made public.

‘‘It’s important that people dealing with you do [know].’’ — The New Zealand Herald