Two sides to Hawthorn

The former sergeant in charge of South Wairarapa, Kevin Tunnell, said he knew Hawthorn as a victim and perpetrator of violence, as an offender and as a person. ‘‘There are two sides to Gavin Hawthorn – there is the sober Gavin Hawthorn, the family man with children and a partner. Sober, he’s a role-model father, partner and homemaker. As a drinker, he’s a danger to himself and the public.’’ Tunnell was in charge of the district between 1994 and 2001 and said Hawthorn never grasped the fact he could not drink and drive. He said a jail term would have been fair but equally Hawthorn’s home detention was also likely to be fair given the judge was privy to more background than what was heard in court.