A Waipukurau man has been sentenced to one of the longest non-fatal violence terms ever imposed in a Hawke's Bay court for an attack on a girlfriend he left bleeding profusely in her own bed without calling for any help.
Appearing in Napier District Court today, Jamie Shane Wilkinson, 37, was sentenced to 14 years, which included 18 months for his intimidation of the victim and attempts, including phone calls from jail, to make her withdraw her evidence.
Wilkinson had denied two charges of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, two of kidnapping, one of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, one of injuring with intent and one of attempting to pervert the course of justice, but was found guilty at a trial.
Those in court to hear the sentencing, most unassociated, were in shock and disbelief as Judge Tony Adeane summarised the events which had unfolded at the trial.
He said the couple were seen to leave a party and were arguing. There was little evidence of what happened next, other than that the woman was found in her bed the next day with injuries to most parts of her body.