Assault earns shearer community detention

William Young-Rimene will serve five months community detention for assaulting his former partner.

Shearer William Young-Rimene will serve five months subjected to a night-time curfew for assaulting his former-partner when he found her drinking at home with another man.

The 31-year-old, who previously admitted breach of a protection order, assault, two counts of breach of supervision and breach of community work and driving while disqualified, was yesterday sentenced to five months' community detention.

Sentencing in Masterton District Court had been delayed for Young-Rimene to provide evidence he was employed as a shearer as his lawyer Virginia Pearson previously told the court he would lose his job and not be able to continue supporting his former partner and their children.

Evidence was provided to the court showing Young-Rimene was in fact employed as a shearer and that the season was about to start - offering him full-time work.

Ms Pearson told the court she was concerned about the police summary of facts regarding the incident on May 11 when he went to his former partner's home and found another man there drinking with her.

He was only trying to get the woman to sit down and talk with him, she said.

Young-Rimene had gone to the home to drop off a birthday present for his daughter when an argument erupted between them both, Ms Pearson told the court. "He grabbed her, not a forceful grab. There was suggestion there was a push, not a forceful push, a 'come sit down and talk about this' push."

The woman's hand became shut in the door as Young-Rimene closed the door at the same time she put her hand in it to close it, the lawyer told the court.

The pair are no longer in a relationship but were co-parenting their children, she said.

"He financially and emotionally provides for the family."

Regarding the driving while disqualified charge, Young-Rimene had been asked by a friend, who was intoxicated, to go to the shop to buy milk for their young child and didn't think about the consequences, Ms Pearson said.

"He was going through a very difficult time in his life."

Judge Tony Walsh noted Young-Rimene had a number of convictions, including five of driving while disqualified, dating back to 1999 and that he worked long hours supporting his family.

But the violence he meted out to his former partner was unnecessary, he said.

"You have young children. You still have to support them to the best of your ability ... violence of this nature is unnecessary. You have to do better in the future."

About driving while disqualified, Judge Walsh told Young-Rimene it was a foolish thing to do.

"You can't get off the disqualification treadmill. I am concerned. You let yourself down badly with poor judgment. I'm giving you one last chance. If caught driving again you may well be facing a term of imprisonment ... make no mistake," he said.

On the assault and driving while disqualified charges, Young-Rimene was sentenced to five months' community detention with a curfew between 7pm and 4am.

On each of the breach of community work and breach of supervision charges, Judge Walsh ordered he pay $260 court costs.

Rimene was also disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day, due to start when his current disqualification period expires in July 2014.