Jailed man faces surgery for rare cancer

A man jailed today suffers from a rare cancer of the jaw of which only 30 cases had been recorded worldwide. File photo / NZ Herald

Suffering from a rare cancer did not save a violent offender with gang connections being jailed today.

His counsel Moana Cole told Christchurch District Court that Rex Paul, 34, was scheduled to have surgery at Christchurch Hospital on Monday.

He had rare cancer of the jaw of which only 30 cases had been recorded worldwide, she said.

Bone from his leg might be used to reconstruct his jaw and he would have to relearn how to chew and swallow after the cancer is removed.

Paul admitted assaulting his separated partner, breaching a protection order, and breaching his prison release conditions.

Judge Stephen Erber said Paul had permission to make limited visits to his partner two days a week, to see his children, but on December 20 he arrived drunk and punched her several times in the head and face, causing a bloody nose and bruising. He also caused $400 worth of damage to her property

The woman said in her victim impact report that she thought Paul was going to kill her, and she was sick of him after a series of incidents.

Ms Cole submitted prison was not the place for Paul while he was recovering from such major surgery.

But Judge Erber said Paul had six previous assaults on his record and three breaches of protection orders.

"You have a gang connection which is fairly profound -- you regard the gang as your family," he said.

"Your problem is anger management, together with booze, and an attitude that if this woman doesn't do what you fancy then she's got it coming."

He imposed cumulative sentences totalling 18 months with release conditions that will force Paul to attend programmes for parenting and anger management, and he has been ordered to pay for the damage.

- NZPA