Man fined for punching daughter's 'boyfriend'

A father who assaulted a man who developed a relationship with his 13-year-old daughter has been fined $1000.

The 43-year-old man appeared before Judge Michael Behrens in Blenheim District Court yesterday.

The Marlborough Express reported that defence lawyer Michael Hardy Jones told the court that the May 5 assault happened after the man and his wife had tried other ways of keeping the 23-year-old man away from their daughter.

When the father realised a relationship had developed between his daughter and the man he initially went to the police, who were unable to help.

Assistance was then sought from Child Youth and Family, and then a church pastor who organised a meeting and the victim promised to end his contact with the girl.

The newspaper said that a few days later, on May 5, the defendant and his wife were driving to work when they saw their daughter who should have been at school walking hand-in-hand with the victim.

The father admitted approaching the victim and punching the younger man in the face, then on the ground, and then when he stood up. The man was not seriously injured.

Judge Behrens suppressed the names of the father and his family and the victim.

- NZPA