Man bites, burns, bashes ex

A Taranaki man who subjected his partner to a series of degrading and vicious assaults over a prolonged period has been sent to prison.

Connor Hanz Pratt, 23, appeared before Judge Chris Sygrove in the New Plymouth District Court yesterday for sentencing on charges of male assaults female, assault with intent to injure, injures with intent to injure, assault with a weapon and threatens to kill or do grievous bodily harm.

The five charges related to numerous brutal attacks on his ex-partner, Judge Sygrove said.

‘‘That was one of the more serious assaults on a woman that I have dealt with.’’

The couple had been in a relationship for about 10 months and had been living together from June 2018 until September 7, 2018.

On one occasion Pratt had been drinking at a friend’s and called his partner to pick him up but as they drove home he got angry and lashed out, kicking the glove box and punching the front windscreen, smashing it.

When the victim pulled over he grabbed her head with both hands and head butted her to the forehead, leaving a lump.

Between June 9 and September 7, 2018, Pratt attacked his victim a number of times, spitting, punching, kicking, head butting and pulling her hair, which resulted in her suffering bruises to her face and body.

He also held a knife to her head, face, neck and body on three separate occasions and tormented her, asking if she wanted to be stabbed.

On three occasions Pratt climbed on top of the woman and restricted her from breathing, twice he put his hand over her mouth and pinched her nose and once put both hands around her throat and applied pressure, preventing her from breathing to the point she became dizzy and felt she was about to lose consciousness.

During the time Pratt also burnt his victim with a hot cigarette lighter, bit her and beat her with a door draught stopper, leaving her with significant bruising to her back. The violence was so severe the woman feared for her life.

Defence lawyer Josie Mooney said Pratt had been upfront with police and had entered early guilty pleas and asked Judge Sygrove to recognise his attempts of remorse. The judge said the assaults, which were carried out over a sustained and lengthy period of time, had stripped the woman of all of her confidence and self-esteem.

He acknowledged a letter expressing remorse from Pratt and said he hoped he carried out his intentions once he was released from prison.

Pratt was sentenced to a total of two years and nine months imprisonment.