Father admits assaulting his children

A Masterton man, 58, admitted two charges in Masterton District Court of assaulting a child but disputed the police summary of facts.

A 58-year-old Masterton man has been convicted of assaulting his two young children.

At a case review hearing in Masterton District Court last Thursday, the man, who has name suppression, pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting a child but disputed the police's version of events.

Through his lawyer, Virginia Pearson, he said he admitted becoming angry at his children and assaulting them but took issue with the police summary of facts.

According to the summary of facts, the man punched his son in the face and also picked up his daughter and threw her across the room, causing her to hit a table.

Ms Pearson said the children were fighting and he grabbed his son by his clothing and struck him on the back of the head.

He also contended that he did not pick his daughter up in the air and throw her but pushed her out of the way, she said.

Ms Pearson said there was no medical evidence and the children went to the school the next day.

"He says in his generation this family violence was more accepted."

Police prosecutor Sergeant Garry Wilson said the defendant was blaming society for his behaviour.

Judge Tony Walsh said it was clear the man used considerable force on his children and they hadbeen assaulted.

"The boy suffered an injury either way ... the girl suffered soreness and bruising to her back."

He convicted and remanded the man for sentencing on December 18.

The man had also been charged with two counts of cruelty to/or ill treatment of a child but police withdrew the charges.