Man threw frying pan at partner

An angry man threw a frying pan at his partner when she failed to prepare dinner on time, a Taranaki court heard.

This violent reaction kicked off a series of aggressive tactics to which William James Meston subjected his partner last month, all in the presence of their fouryear-old daughter, the Ha¯ wera District Court was told.

Sergeant Craig Jones said Meston was at his Stratford home on October 29 with his family.

Jones said at 6pm, the 34-yearold became angry at his partner as she had not started to make dinner. The couple began to argue.

‘‘The argument escalated and the defendant threw a frying pan across the room in close proximity to the victim,’’ he told Tuesday’s hearing.

The woman decided to leave the Percy St address and took the young child with her.

Jones said Meston tried to prevent her from doing so by trapping her in the bedroom. She pushed past him, which caused him to trip and both of them fell to the ground. A scuffle ensued before the victim broke away.

While she was on the phone to police, Meston picked up a carving knife and threatened to hurt himself before he turned the weapon towards the victim.

As he approached with the knife, the victim fled the house and got into the car, Jones said.

Meston pursued his partner on a push bike and rode into the side of the car before taking off. He was arrested a short time later.

On Tuesday, the defendant pleaded guilty to charges of male assaults female and possession of an offensive weapon.

Lawyer Nathan Bourke said Meston suffered from bi-polar disorder and at the time of the assault he had been off his medication.

Bourke said the defendant was now living with his parents and his mental health had improved.

He asked Judge Chris Sygrove to consider a sentence of supervision for Meston.

Judge Sygrove sentenced Meston to a nine month term of supervision along with 100 hours of community work.