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A Tauranga man has avoided jail despite punching his 39-weeks pregnant partner in the face, side and legs - the second time he had bashed her during the pregnancy.
In January, Alan Edward Boyd, 19, was sentenced to 100 hours' community work and six months' supervision after admitting assaulting his partner at their Welcome Bay home on November 17.
On that occasion, Boyd punched her in the left side of the face and another four or five times as she lay on the ground. The woman received a bruised left eye and a graze to her leg.
His supervision order required Boyd to attend a Living Without Violence programme and other counselling as directed by his probation officer.
In the Tauranga District Court on Monday, Boyd was sentenced to 12 months' intensive supervision and given a prison warning by Judge Paul Geoghan. Boyd earlier admitted a further charge of male assaults female and two breaches of supervision.
Boyd was also sentenced to 200 hours' community work cumulative on any outstanding hours from his earlier sentence.
The court was told that on February 18 an argument broke out between Boyd and his partner at their home.
Boyd punched her twice in the face before punching her side above her right hip and several times on the leg.
The woman was rushed to Tauranga Hospital's maternity ward.
Judge Geoghan told Boyd that the courts were concerned about the growing number of women subjected to violence by their partners, and he was among those ranks.
"How you could engage in violence against your partner, who was 39 weeks pregnant - potentially quite dangerous to the health of your own baby - astounds me. You need to reflect long and hard on that, Mr Boyd."
Not only did Boyd have prior convictions for male assaults female and a breach of community work, he also had two for drink-driving.
But Judge Geoghan said while imprisonment was justified, he was prepared to step back from this only because of Boyd's better effort in terms of the supervision order after being warned by another judge to do so.
Judge Geoghan said, " This is the last time this opportunity will be extended to you."
- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES
