Man jailed for seven years and six months for abusing his ex-partner

A man who physically and sexually abused his ex-partner has been sentenced to seven years and six months in jail.

The man, whose name has been deleted, had denied the charges: two of rape, three of assault, two of assault with a weapon and one of death threat.

But he was found guilty by Judge Timothy Brewer earlier this year.

Today, the Superior Court judge said a writer of the report had concluded that the man showed no remorse for the crime and continued to deny it.

Five charges related to the night of January 19, 2017.

The man had chased the woman around the house with a knife, “knocked” her to the ground, and then used death threats to force her to perform sexual acts.

The woman filed a police report when the relationship ended in April of that year.

The man’s ex-partner, whose name is protected by law, spoke in Auckland High Court this morning.

“He abused me verbally, physically and sexually,” she said.

“The physical pain he has caused me pales in importance to the emotional damage …”

Violence of any kind – sexual, verbal, physical or financial – cannot be tolerated and must be talked about, he said.

He said he had struggled to speak about what happened.

She would leave with strength and love, with an “amazing future” to look forward to.

Crown’s case during the trial was that the man had continuously manipulated and abused his partner during their brief and toxic relationship.

During the trial, defense attorney Belinda Sellars QC told the court that it was clear that her client had mistreated the complainant and that she was “essentially his meal ticket.”

“He took money from her, cheated on him, and repeatedly made promises that he didn’t keep,” Sellars said.

The woman had very good reason to be extremely upset and angry with him, Sellars said.

But although the relationship was financially and emotionally abusive, he was not physically or sexually violent, he said.

Judge Brewer sentenced the man to a term of seven years and six months in jail.