A Blenheim man was sentenced to community work for kicking a woman in the stomach after changing his plea at the last minute before his jury trial was set to begin at the Blenheim District Court yesterday.
Simon Louis Melton, 24, admitted assaulting a female and intentional damage of a stereo after Crown prosecutor Hugh Boyd-Wilson withdrew a charge of assault with intent to injure.
Melton was sentenced to 100 hours' community work, nine months' supervision and ordered to pay $300 reparation for the stereo.
Melton must also complete a domestic violence programme.
Judge Michael Behrens said the incident on November 24, 2009 began when a child damaged property belonging to Melton. He grabbed his then partner and kicked her twice in the stomach.
The relationship "obviously was getting too much for both of you", but there was "no excuse for doing that", the judge said.
Melton had no previous convictions for assault.
Defence counsel Philip Watson asked Judge Behrens to include the $3000 Melton owed in fines in the sentence to give him a "clean slate".
He was now in a stable environment and a relationship with his new partner and had "learned a lesson from his involvement with the police", Mr Watson said.
- The Marlborough Express
No comments:
Post a Comment