Mother given six-month detention

Patricia Anahera Goffe, 24, was sentenced in Masterton District Court to six months' home detention after earlier pleading guilty to assault with a weapon.

A Masterton woman who wants her children back has "matured" since she tried to stab a man with a pair of nail scissors, her lawyer told the court.

Patricia Anahera Goffe, 24, was sentenced to six months' home detention by Judge Geoffrey Ellis in Masterton District Court recently after previously pleading guilty to assault with a weapon.

The charge arose from a domestic incident at Carterton on July 12.

Lawyer James Elliott said Goffe had been in custody since her arrest in July and was supported by her parents. She was addressing alcohol and drug issues and wanted to put her life in order.

Goffe had struggled, suffering traumatic stress since she lost her two young children to Child, Youth and Family, and she desperately wanted them back, he said.

"She has matured."

She had taken steps to address her addictions and was well supported now, Mr Elliott said.

He had asked the court to consider home detention even though she had breached a previous community-based sentence five times.

Community Corrections had recommended a jail term this time.

Judge Ellis said he had concerns about home detention because of her previous failures to comply but a community-based sentence gave her the best chance to address her addictions.

"I don't believe jail will give you the best opportunity to address the personal issues driving your extraordinary behaviour ... you are warned if you breach them you will have run out of options and excuses," he said. "It seems to me you need to have structure and stability in your life to address these issues."

Goffe needed to realise her actions had not affected her but her family, especially her parents, he said.

"Sort yourself out ... the choices you are making are depriving [your parents] of the wonderful experience of being grandparents. Sort it out."

Along with the home detention sentence, Goffe is subject to six post release conditions.