Jail for woman's four-day sex ordeal

Matenga Kingi Ashby has been sentenced to 15 years jail for a sex attack on a woman which latest four days. Photo / file

The High Court has sentenced a young Northland man to 15 years in jail after he kidnapped and held a woman prisoner in his house, where he sexually abused her for four days.

Matenga Kingi Ashby, 24, must serve at least half that term before he is eligible for parole.

He was found guilty by a jury in June on eight charges of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, one of kidnapping, one of assault with a weapon and two charges of male assaults female.

Ashby appeared for sentencing before Justice Tim Brewer in the High Court at Whangarei yesterday.

His offences started in November 2009 when Ashby - angry at the woman for reporting him to police - jumped uninvited into the passenger's seat of her car when she was in Kaikohe and demanded she drive him to his house.

At his house, Ashby verbally, physically and sexually assaulted and threatened the woman with a beer bottle, pool cue and screw driver before she escaped.

During the ordeal Ashby had the keys to her car and would only allow her out if he was with her. On one occasion they drove to Moerewa to get food.

People visited the house while she was there but she was too scared, fearing for her life, to raise any alarms.

Ashby committed the offences while serving a two-year sentence of intensive supervision, imposed in July 2009, on a charge of violence against a woman.

In court yesterday, Crown prosecutor Anna Patterson said the victim was confused, manipulated and did not have a lot of self empowerment while being kept captive.

A starting point of between 14-16 years' jail was appropriate, Ms Patterson submitted.

Justice Brewer said the victim felt numb, fearful, isolated and terrified and had nightmares as a result of Ashby's actions.

The Crown asked the court to impose a minimum non parole period.

Defence lawyer Grant Anson said Ashby had the ability to respond to rehabilitation and that his difficult start to life must be taken as a mitigating factor.

Ashby had a difficult childhood, moving between different whanau residences.

He went into the care of Child, Youth and Family when he was 11, the judge said.

In the six years before his latest offending, Justice Brewer said Ashby amassed 19 convictions for violence, including assaults on police and prison officers.

He was assessed as having a low intellectual capability, poor impulse control and a lack of internal control.

Justice Brewer imposed consecutive terms of 15 years' jail on sex charges, six years' for kidnap, 18 months' for assault with a weapon and one year on male assaults female charges.

-APNZ