A Christchurch man has been jailed for two years ten months for an incident the judge described as “domestic terrorism”.
Christopher Plews, 47, will be eligible to apply to the Parole Board for early release almost immediately after being held in custody on remand for more than a year.
He has written letters of apology to the judge at the Christchurch District Court and to his two victims – women with whom he was in a relationship in late 2014 and early 2015.
He had pleaded guilty to charges of wounding with intent to injure, assaulting a woman, and attempted arson.
Defence counsel Elizabeth Bulger said Plews had not been idle in prison and had achieved an enormous amount while on remand, in terms of completing courses and gaining qualifications. She urged that his sentence be reduced because of the progress he had made.
Judge Raoul Neave said the first incident took place when Plews argued with his partner after they had both been drinking and she was intoxicated. She had no recollection of what happened, but she was badly injured and Plews had taken her to the hospital during the night.
She received a torn right ear, fractured eye socket, and broken jaw.
A few months later, he was in a relationship with another woman, and after arguing with her he had pushed her around the room until she ran away.
During the night he returned to her address, broke a window where she was sleeping and poured petrol inside. He threatened to light the petrol, telling her that if he could not have her, no-one would.
“This was an exercise in domestic terrorism and power and control that does you no credit at all,” said the judge.
He noted that both incidents took place when at least one victim – and possibly both of them – were asleep, which made them vulnerable. He also noted the work that Plews had done while in prison and his willingness to address alcohol and substance abuse problems.
He imposed cumulative sentences totalling two years ten months and gave Plews a first strike warning.
The post Judge sees incident as ‘domestic terrorism’ appeared first on Courtnews.co.nz.