A 21-year-old shearer who was in a “toxic” relationship was sentenced to 33 days in jail for assaulting his partner and breaching an intervention order.
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Iana Takarangi, of Hamilton, was also fined $300 for the offences that left his partner with a wound to the back of her head.
Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Kevin Mullins told the Warrnambool Magistrates Court that Takarangi had an altercation with his partner inside a car.
He said Takarangi had admitted he had punched his partner in the arm and pushed her several times.
Magistrate Cynthia Toose said it was unresolved about whether Takarangi’s partner had tried to jump out of the car because she was being assaulted.
Leading Senior Constable Mullins said Takarangi’s partner had not finished her statement to police.
The court heard that an intervention order had previously been taken out against Takarangi and he had been in custody since April 19.
Takarangi’s counsel said Takarangi’s father had said his son’s relationship with his partner had been characterised by violence for some time.
Takarangi’s partner also worked in the shearing industry and Takarangi’s father believed the problem between the pair was that they were with each other 24 hours a day.
However the relationship between the two was still strong, Takarangi’s counsel said.
He said Takarangi hoped to return to New Zealand where he had family.
In sentencing Takarangi, Ms Toose said his guilty plea indicated he was in a “toxic” relationship.
She said if Takarangi did return to his family in New Zealand, she hoped there would be no further assaults against his partner.
Ms Toose said the 33 days that Takarangi served in custody showed the courts would back up intervention orders granted to those whose sought protection.
Takarangi was also convicted of possessing cannabis.