'Dangerous' texts earn jail warning

Ihaia Pirere, 21, has been convicted of breaching a protection order, which related to sending abusive texts to a former girlfriend. Photograph posed.

A Wairarapa man was warned by a judge that his nasty text messages, which made a woman suicidal, could put him behind bars.

Ihaia Pirere, 21, appeared in Masterton District Court earlier this week and was convicted of breaching a protection order, which related to sending abusive texts to a former girlfriend.

Prosecuting sergeant Jodie Lawrence told the court how Pirere and the woman had been in an on-off relationship for about four years.

The relationship ended in March but Pirere continued to psychologically abuse the woman and a protection order was issued. Despite this Pirere continued to contact the woman by sending manipulative text messages.

The texting affected the woman emotionally, to the extent she became suicidal at times, Mrs Lawrence said.

Defence lawyer Virginia Pearson said Pirere accepted that the messages were inappropriate and said contact had since ceased.

Judge Chris Tuohy told Pirere text messages of this kind were "very dangerous" for people's emotional and psychological well being and that if he continued he could well be going to prison.

"It's over, she wants it over and you need to accept that and if you don't accept that you may find yourself going to prison for sending text messages."