Abusive ex-partner warned of jail

Kahutara dairy farmer Joshua James Pye, 31, pleaded guilty to breach of a protection order and was sentenced to 80 hours' community work and nine months' supervision.

After hearing his ex-partner's mother on television talking about breaching protection orders Joshua James Pye began texting abusive and jealous messages to his former partner over a two-day period.

When she changed her cellphone number he began bombarding the woman on Facebook until she became frightened and called police, who arrested him.

Pye had been remanded in custody for two weeks which his lawyer said profoundly affected him. Appearing before Judge Tony Walsh in Masterton District Court yesterday, through defence lawyer Philip Ross, the 31-year-old Kahutara dairy farmer pleaded guilty to breach of a protection order and was sentenced to 80 hours' community work and nine months' supervision.

Judge Walsh said the breach was Pye's fourth and warned him about any further breaches.

"If you come back to court for breaching you will likely get a term of imprisonment."

Police prosecutor Sergeant Garry Wilson said after Pye saw the woman talking on television on May 14 he sent "numerous" text messages to his former partner during the night and into the next day saying he "was over it" and that she had "cut out my heart".

"He texted the victim that he wasn't impressed."

She changed her phone number so he started sending her messages on Facebook saying he was on his way to Napier.

The "persistent" messages took on a jealous tone asking what she was hiding, Mr Wilson said.

"It continued for two days until she became scared and called police".

Mr Ross said that against legal advice Pye and the woman were in an off-again on-again relationship.

"Every time the situation resumes something goes wrong."

Judge Walsh said it was clear the relationship was "problematic" with Pye receiving "mixed messages" but it was clear it was over.

"The complainant has made it clear ... you have to accept that or you are setting yourself up for real problems," he said. "These are serious orders there for a purpose. My advice is not to contact her. That might be difficult to accept. You need to do that so you can move on."