Woman assaulted by husband while driving home

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A judge has commended a woman for her courage in going to police after being assaulted by her husband.

The pair were going through a separation and had both been drinking when the incident happened last December.

They were driving home when the man assaulted his wife numerous different ways, including by punching her.

She went to police, sparking a search of the man’s house that resulted in officers discovering  27 variously sized cannabis plants.

For legal reasons, the man can’t be named.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting a person in a family relationship and cultivating cannabis and was sentenced in Gisborne District Court this week. Judge Stephen O’Driscoll imposed five months community detention and 12 months supervision.

There was no victim impact report available to the court but the judge said he could infer from the nature and extent of the offending described in a summary of facts, that it would have had a significant effect on the woman.

The man had an excellent reference from his employer, who said he was a skilled operator and had great rapport with clients who specifically requested his services.

However, that was not unusual in cases such as this, Judge O’Driscoll said. Domestic offenders often presented a positive face to the public, while having a more sinister and dark side in private.

It was to the woman’s credit she had found the courage to go to police.

The judge noted the Crown was supportive of a rehabilitative sentence. The man had one previous conviction for assault but it was historical.

Under supervision, he would be required to have an assessment for alcohol and other drug issues and to participate in any treatment or counselling as directed. He would be banned from contacting the complainant without prior written approval from his probation officer.