A Hokitika man's partner had to crawl across the road with a broken ankle to escape his punches, the Greymouth District Court heard yesterday.
Lawrence Moana Wai Wai, 30, was remanded on bail for sentencing on May 8 after he admitted assaulting the woman on September 11.
Wai Wai and his partner had been out drinking all night, but went home at different times. Their relationship had produced three domestic violence incidents, the court heard.
Wai Wai arrived home first and was angry because he could not find his key to enter the property, so he broke in. When his partner arrived home later she could not turn on the lights because Wai Wai had turned the power off at the mains. An argument ensued.
Wai Wai said he punched the woman several times in the face after she bit his thumb.
