Man guilty of assaulting sportswoman partner

The former partner of a Waikato sportswoman will be sentenced on Friday for an unprovoked attack on her.

The man, who can't be named because it would identify his victim, was found guilty of assault with intent to injure after a defended hearing in Hamilton District Court yesterday, The Waikato Times reported.

He was remanded on bail for sentencing on Friday.

Three further charges, including assaulting a female and threatening to kill, were dismissed by Judge David Wilson QC.

Judge Wilson permanently suppressed the woman's name, saying the she had been set upon in an unprovoked attack and it was not in the public's proper interest to identify her.

The court was told that the man attacked his partner in February, less than two months after the pair got together.

He assaulted her "out of the blue" after she had called him in for lunch.

During the struggle the defendant punched her about the face and wrapped his hands around the woman's throat, saying: "I can dig your grave, I can do away with you now."

The woman was eventually able to get to her neighbours' place and phone police.

The defendant told the court his partner attacked him after he threatened to end their relationship.

He came inside for lunch to find her smoking the drug P.

He said she smoked methamphetamine on a daily basis and her drug habit had strained their relationship.

He admitted pushing her away as he left the house and conceded his actions may have caused scratch marks to her neck.

Judge Wilson said the woman's claims had been significantly supported by medical evidence and police observations.

He said there was no evidence to suggest she was regularly took P during their relationship.

- NZPA