Girlfriend abuser Timothy Hebberley shows no remorse during sentencing in Napier court

Napier court house

A judge jailing a Napier man for 11 years for assaulting his girlfriend during an abusive two-year relationship said he showed no remorse for his offending.

Timothy Hebberley, 21, appeared before Justice Helen Cull in the High Court at Napier yesterday morning for sentencing on 13 abuse charges.

In a week-long trial last October Hebberley was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict of kicking, punching, biting and strangling his partner in an abusive relationship spanning more than two years.

During yesterday's sentencing Hebberley shook his head in the dock, causing Justice Cull to pause and tell him to stop shaking his head.

She handed down a sentence of 11 years' imprisonment with no minimum period, telling him this was an opportunity to reflect on his offending and address his anger, violence and narcissistic tendencies.

Hebberley had spent two years behind bars, including his 21st birthday, before yesterday's sentencing after being found guilty of 13 charges including assault with intent to injure, injuring with intent to injure, threatening to kill, threatening to inflict grievous bodily harm, male assaults female and sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection.

All but one charge of threatening to kill related to his former partner whom Justice Cull referred to several times during sentencing; noting the "serious and long-lasting impact" of his actions.

Aside from a statement made to police, Hebberley flat-out denies the offending.

In her submissions yesterday, crown prosecutor Jo Rielly said Hebberley not only lacked remorse but took things "one step further" to blame the victim and suggest that it was he himself who was abused in the relationship.

Ms Rielly said he posed a high risk to the safety of the community.

During the trial the Crown alleged he branded his partner with a hot wire, burned her with hot candle wax, lighters and cigarettes and intentionally dislocated her hip during intercourse.

Hebberley's lawyer Scott Jefferson told the jury his client was acting in self-defence and that any sexual activity had been done with his partner's continual consent.

While the jury acquitted him of the charges relating to burning her and locking her in a wash house with a dangerous dog, they found him guilty of kicking, punching, biting and strangling her, as well as dislocating her hip and brandishing a knife at the victim and her father the night the relationship ended.

Yesterday Jefferson asked the judge to consider his youth at the time of the offending as a mitigating factor and this was granted in the form of a discount of one year.

For remorse, Justice Cull could give no discount.

She accepted his "narcissistic traits" and lack of empathy meant he was at high risk of reoffending towards other intimate partners in the future.

Addressing Hebberley, she said there was a hope that with maturity he would have insight into his actions and that the risk he posed to the community would be reduced.

She urged him to take the opportunities he had to help himself while in prison.

"This is a chance you do have to come to terms with your immaturity and address your lack of insight."