Six months' jail for breaches of protection order

Robin Norman who appeared in Tauranga District Court on Tuesday was jailed for his 18th breach of a protection order. Photo/File

A Bay man has been jailed for six months for his 18th protection order breach in relation to his ex-partner.

Robin Norman, 44, who appeared in the Tauranga District Court on Tuesday, pleaded guilty to a charge of contravening a protection order.

The court heard that Norman clocked up his 18th breach on October 21 when he visited the protected woman's home about 5pm.

Norman, who was intoxicated, was asked to leave several times but refused and only left after the complainant phoned the police.

When police arrived Norman could not be located, but he returned two hours later.

The complainant again told Norman several times to leave and, when he refused to leave, she and another person there at the time shut themselves in the bathroom.

Police were again called and Norman was arrested.

Norman's lawyer, Tony Rickard-Simms, said some of Norman's visits were by the complainant's invitation.

Mr Rickard-Simms said a prison sentence of six months was appropriate given the lack of other offending.

Judge Paul Mabey, QC, agreed and told Norman a significant factor in his favour was that this breach was not accompanied by actual violence.

But given this was his 18th protection order breach in relation to the same victim, sending him back to prison was the only option, he said.

Judge Mabey said he hoped Norman would soon realise that he would only spend longer periods behind bars if he reoffended in the future.

"I hope you realise, Mr Norman, you are only wasting a significant period of your time and everyone else's if you keep reoffending in this way."