Man jailed on 13 charges of beating children

A judge says a man stole the childhoods of his children after a continued period of beatings.

The man, 38, who was given final name suppression, was sentenced to 2 years’ and 11 months’ jail on 13 charges by Judge Bernadette Farnan in the Invercargill District Court yesterday.

His 13 charges included six representative charges of male assaults child, six of assault with intent to injure, two of assault with a weapon, assaulting a child and a representative charge of male assaults female.

The oldest daughter read her victim impact statement to the court, and said her childhood was over.

The court heard the man was violent to and in front of his seven children, aged three to 14, during an 18-month period in Invercargill as he and their mother used methamphetamine.

‘‘I don’t understand how you could do this to us,’’ the daughter said.

The court heard the teenager was thrown down the stairs, punched, slapped and hit with household items.

Defence lawyer Scott Williamson said the man’s prospects of rehabilitation looked positive.

‘‘I do say there is genuine remorse,’’ Williamson said.

‘‘His time in prison has not been easy, but given the type of charges that is to be expected.’’

Judge Farnan said the man failed to protect his children, instead he instilled fear.

‘‘You have stolen their childhood,’’ the judge said. ‘‘You engaged in your drug taking at the expense of your children.’’

Judge Farnan told the court on one occasion the man accused his daughter of stealing his drugs, and when she told him he had consumed them the night before, he struck her in the head with a dictionary.

A cultural report submitted to the court says the man has become a born-again Christian and shows genuine remorse.

The man has unresolved grief from never knowing his biological father and the sudden death of his step-father when he was 11, the report says.

Williamson submitted certificates in parenting and stopping violence courses the man had completed.

The man and his family appeared in court via video link.

A family member, in a victim impact statement, said: ‘‘We will look after your kids, just sort yourself out.’’

The judge did not apply a discount for remorse nor a minimum period of imprisonment.

‘‘You have stolen their childhood.’’ Judge Bernadette Farnan