Man gets community work after 'nasty assault'

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A Masterton man who inflicted a "nasty assault" on his former partner, which included punching her 14-year-old daughter, was sentenced to supervision and community work.

Keith Richard Baker, 49, appeared in Masterton District Court recently and pleaded guilty to charges of male assaults female and assault.

Prosecuting sergeant Garry Wilson said on August 13 Baker sent a text to the woman asking her to go to his house.

The woman and her 11-year-old daughter arrived and the woman went inside while her daughter waited outside.

Baker locked the door behind her and started verbally abusing her, then punched her to the side of her face without warning. The woman, fearing further violence, struck Baker. This had no effect on him and he punched her again.

He then grabbed her by her shirt and threw her to the ground. She got back to her feet briefly before he punched her again. The woman had a swollen and bloodied face and nose.

The woman picked up a candlestick holder to protect herself and as Baker lunged towards her with clenched fists above his head she hit him on the head with the holder. He continued to advance on the woman, laughing at her as he did, so she hit him three or four more times to the upper body.

He fell backwards to the ground and she took this opportunity to leave the house and unlocked the back door. Baker grabbed her from behind and pulled her on to the ground, pinning her underneath him. He raised his fist above his head and attempted to punch her.

The woman's daughter and her 14-year-old sister, who had arrived by this time, intervened and this allowed the woman to get back to her feet. The woman and her daughters tried to leave the address but Baker stood in the doorway preventing their escape. The woman began throwing items at Baker trying to get him to let them out. Baker threw another punch at her but missed and hit the 14-year-old girl in the face.

Defence lawyer Louise Elder said Baker had ended up in hospital with two or three cuts to the back of his head as a result of the assault.

Ms Elder said Baker had experienced carbon monoxide poisoning in the past, which had some effect on him.

Judge Tony Walsh said it was clear from reading the victim impact statement that the woman was very scared.

"This was a nasty assault Mr Baker, it was a very heated confrontation between you and the victim and she sustained a number of injuries ... you have also sustained injuries. Things got really out of hand that night and you can't let history repeat itself. When there are blows to the head, the danger is that there is potential for tragedy."

Judge Walsh sentenced Baker to 9 months' supervision and 100 hours' community work.