A judge condemned a Dunedin man for his "demoralising, humiliating and debilitating" treatment of a young woman after he left her fearing for her life.
Shay Dave Mauger (20) had a history of treating woman in an abusive manner, appearing in the Dunedin District Court yesterday for offending that occurred while he was already on a sentence of supervision for his mistreatment of an ex-partner.
In 2021, Mauger broke into the woman’s home, climbed into bed with her while she was sleeping and began rubbing his groin against her back, a police summary said.
Mauger was sentenced to four months’ community detention and nine months’ supervision for assault in a family relationship on June 15, 2022.
On December 3, 2022, while he was still serving his sentence of supervision, Mauger was consuming alcohol in a car with a different woman when he became aggressive, calling her a "slut".
As she sat in the driver’s seat, he attempted to grab the keys from her but she refused to allow him to drive while intoxicated.
Mauger struck the young woman multiple times on the face, before getting out and throwing a road cone at the car, smashing the window.
As a result of the attack the woman received a swollen lip and a large lump on her forehead, but her injuries were more than skin deep.
A victim impact statement revealed that she had trouble sleeping, violent nightmares and at times feared for her life.
"The way you treated her was demoralising, humiliating and debilitating," Judge Emma Smith said.
"There she is caring about you, but rather than respond appropriately you struck her at least two times in the face. She was constrained behind the wheel of a car; she couldn’t get out the way."
At the time of the offending Mauger had nowhere to live, no money and no food, the court heard.
"No-one wants any members of our community to be living that way," the judge said.
Mauger’s previous convictions were thought to be linked to his early life circumstances, with his mother leaving him at the age of 7.
"You fear that some of your violence that is evident from these convictions stems from your trauma growing up and you are perpetuating that cycle," said Judge Smith.
Charged with assault with intent to injure, Mauger was sentenced to five months’ home detention and ordered to pay court costs of $130.
A protection order was issued in favour of his victim, whose name was suppressed.
