Man on bail drags sleeping victim from bedroom and assaults him, Whanganui court told

Judge Philip Crayton said he anticipated Francis Matthews was someone who loses his temper and control, resulting in others being at risk and suffering. Photo / Stuart Munro

A man dragged his sleeping victim from his bed after climbing in through an open window and kicked and punched him.

Francis Paineaga Matthews was on bail at the time after skipping a sentencing indication in court and after having pleaded guilty to an earlier charge of common assault.

Matthews entered a Whanganui home through a partially-open window on October 24 2018, dragged his sleeping victim out of bed and outside.

Matthews kicked his victim in the midsection while he was on the ground, then punched him two or three times in the head, leaving him shaken and sore.

Earlier on August 8, Matthews was charged with common assault and speaking threateningly by Whanganui Police in an incident that occurred on Victoria Ave.

At sentencing in Whanganui District Court, Judge Philip Crayton said Matthews approached the first victim demanding the repayment of some money.

"You pushed, shoved and kicked the victim. That person ran into the Gull service station and you approached them again having followed them," Judge Crayton said.

Matthews repeated the process, punching and kicking the victim, forcing them to seek refuge near the counter.

"The second victim was standing behind the counter working the night-shift. They tried to stop you by telling you to do so and went to call police. You told him if he did call the police, you would kill him."

Police arrived at the scene and as Matthews exited the building, he made a throat-slitting gesture towards the worker before kicking a petrol pump.

Judge Crayton told Matthews that following this offending, he intended to indicate an electronically-monitored sentence, however the defendant no-showed.

Following the assault outside the home on October 24, Matthews was again arrested and charged with assault, but was granted bail once more.

While on bail for assault and for sentencing, Matthews skipped another court appearance on November 27.

There was a warrant out for his arrest until Matthews offended again on January 5 when he went to an address, an altercation occurred and he was thrown out.

"You went outside to the front door of the flat and you took a large white-handled butcher's knife out of your bag," Judge Crayton said.

"You began to demand to be let back in. You were kicking the door and very angry at being thrown out. You shouted at the victim 'I'm going to stab you up'."

Matthews began stabbing the door and done so approximately 15 times before police arrived.

Matthews had other charges of burglary, threatens to kill/do grievous bodily harm, wilful damage and failure to answer district court ordered bail added to his tally.

"I have your history, it is unimpressive. You have a very poor record generally and I note that you've been imprisoned," the judge said.

"You, I anticipate, are someone who loses your temper, loses control and as a result, others are at risk and suffer."

Matthews has been imprisoned in 2017, 2014, 2011 and 2006 for dishonesty offences, threatening to kill, wounding with reckless disregard and assaulting police.

In delivering his sentence, Judge Crayton said a pre-sentence report was concerning as Matthews felt he was the person wronged on two occasions and was standing his ground.

The report writer said Matthews' attitude to his offending and its likely impact on his victims was dismissive, uncaring and clearly lacking any real remorse or insight.

Judge Crayton sentenced Matthews to 15 months and three weeks' imprisonment with six months' end sentence conditions.