Judge gives angry dad last chance

A Masterton restaurant worker was convicted on a charge each of wilful damage and breaching a protection order and was sentenced to 100 hours' community service and ordered to pay reparation.

Demanding access to his son, Christopher Peachey sent abusive and threatening text messages to his "frightened" former partner before becoming "enraged" and jumping in front of her car to make her stop.

The Masterton restaurant worker then smashed the driver's wing mirror off before jumping on the bonnet of her car and pounding on the windscreen, demanding she unlock the car doors - all in breach of a protection order issued in June, following previous threats and acts of violence against the woman.

The 19-year-old, who had previously pleaded guilty to charges of wilful damage and breaching a protection order, was given a stern warning by Judge Tony Walsh in the Masterton District Court when he was sentenced yesterday.

A police summary said that on August 23 Peachey's former partner had reported to police he had been sending her "abusive and threatening" text messages demanding access to their 14-month-old son. He had also tried to call her.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Garry Wilson told the court the woman had gone to pick up her son from daycare because Peachey had threatened to get him. "As she was driving away with her son he ran on to the road in front of her car, forcing her to stop. He yelled, demanding to see his son but [the victim] refused to unlock the car doors."

An "enraged" Peachey had smashed the wing mirror and kicked the side of the car several times before jumping on the bonnet and pounding his fists on the windscreen, demanding she unlock the car, Mr Wilson said.

When Peachey had realised the woman was on her cellphone calling police he had run off, the court heard.

Defence lawyer Frank Mineham asked the judge to consider a new intensive supervision order combined with community work as punishment for his client. Peachey had already been sentenced to intensive supervision in July after threatening to kill his former partner. "The root cause is not having unsupervised visits with his son."

Judge Walsh noted earlier warnings to Peachey had "fallen on deaf ears". "This will be his last chance," he warned. The text messages had amounted to "psychological abuse".

Peachey was told if he were to breach the protection order again, he would be setting himself up for a term of imprisonment. "It's very clear you have anger issues ... [next time] there could be more severe sentencing options," the judge said. "Clearly the complainant is very frightened. Protection orders mean what they say."

Judge Walsh convicted Peachey on both counts, sentencing him to 100 hours' community service on the two charges, to be served concurrently, and ordered he pay $150 reparation at $20 per week starting September 19, as he warned Peachey the maximum sentence for breaching a protection order was three years' imprisonment.