Man accused of running away with homestay student charged with assault

John Shapcott with Ranjeeta Raj Mani, appeared in court, charged with assaulting his former partner. Photo / Supplied

A man accused of leaving his partner to run away with a homestay student the couple was looking after has been charged with assaulting his former partner.

John Christopher Shapcott, 60, appeared in the Manukau District Court yesterday, and was released on bail on condition he had no contact with his former partner Jay Chetty, also known as Joyce Wildman.

Shapcott is alleged to have attacked his former partner on Sunday afternoon. A report in Saturday's Weekend Herald had quoted Ms Chetty as claiming 28-year-old Ranjeeta Raj Mani, a student she sponsored and who had been staying at their home, had destroyed their relationship.

Ms Chetty wants to withdraw her sponsorship for Ms Mani, but has been told by Immigration that legislation did not provide for sponsors to withdraw and that she will continue to be responsible for Ms Mani "until such time as she has left the country".

She had written to Immigration and the minister expressing her concerns over the appropriateness of the relationship between Shapcott and the student. Shapcott was arrested at his workplace in Onehunga on Monday. He is due to reappear in the Family Court on January 14 next year.

Meanwhile, two other women say their relationships have been wrecked by international students.

"I was treating her like a daughter, but she was obviously more keen on being a mistress to my husband," said one woman, who says her 52-year-old husband had left her for a 21-year-old Chinese international student they hosted.

Another said her 48-year-old partner left her and their 3-year-old son for their 25-year-old exchange student from Bulgaria.