Man jailed for axe attack

A woman attacked by her axe-wielding partner was terrified of what he would do to her, a court has heard.

Jordan Patangata, 40, from Murupara, was sentenced in the Rotorua District Court today to three and a half years' imprisonment after previously pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to injure.

He was sentenced to a further six months for two counts of assaulting a female and one charge of assault with a weapon.

The charges relate to several incidents during his two year relationship with the victim.

Judge Phillip Cooper said in August last year Patangata attacked his his then-partner with an axe and using the blunt side struck her in the head about four times before striking her a further seven times in the arms, lower legs and feet.

She raised her hand to try to get hold of the axe, when her finger slid along the sharp side of the axe, badly slicing it, with her finger then just attached by a small piece of skin.

She later had to have her finger amputated.

The victim, cried as she read her victim impact statement in court, saying she had never felt so scared or so trapped as when she was with him.

The injuries to her hand had a huge impact on her life, making it hard for her to write and difficult for her to find employment, she said.

"Every time I look at my hand, I feel disfigured. It is a constant reminder of my memories [with Patangata] and these are not times I want to remember, because of the violence of our relationship."

She described him as "paranoid control freak" who would constantly accuse her of infidelity.

Now she was no longer with him, she said she was much happier.

"I don't have to be afraid all the time."

Judge Cooper said the victim was still suffering from both the physical and emotional impact of the offending.

He said while Patangata may not have intended to slice his partner's finger, he was still responsible for the attack.