A high-risk violent criminal who beat up his pregnant partner and smashed her head into a metal pole is back in prison after breaching a court order for the 13th time.
Joshua Cloke, 40, was before the Dunedin District Court this week on his 13th breach of an extended supervision order (ESO), which was imposed three years ago at the end of his previous jail sentence.
An ESO allows Corrections to monitor and manage the most high-risk violent and/or sexual offenders in the community for up to 10 years.
One condition of the order was he live at an address approved by Probation.
On October 9, he was released from prison — a term imposed for further violence and other breaches — and the next day was escorted to his supported accommodation in Auckland.
Hours after he arrived, he made a dash for the airport, hopped on a plane and made his way to Dunedin.
The next day he effectively turned himself in, notifying Corrections he was staying at a local hotel.
In 2015, Stuff reported Cloke was jailed for five years for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and breaching a protection order.
He pushed his pregnant partner backwards down a skate ramp behind a Hamilton church, kicked her then slammed her head into a metalpole.
He threatened to rape the woman and to beat her so badly no other man would want to have anything to do with her, Stuff reported.
After making those threats he kicked her in the stomach.
He eventually fell asleep and the victim called for help.
This week Judge David Robinson asked Cloke, who represented himself, what sentence he thought he should receive.
His response was: "I’m guilty as charged. I can’t make that decision for you ... I’ll take whatever you give me."
The judge noted Cloke had a history of extreme violence and was hostile to Probation services.
"The reason why you are subject to that order is ... you are at very high risk of harm to others and simply don’t engage with sentences," Judge Robinson said.
Imposing 15 months’ imprisonment, he said Cloke’s offending was approaching the most serious of its type.
The maximum penalty for such a breach is two years’ jail.
Cloke’s ESO is due to end in September 2027.
At the expiry of the order, Corrections may apply to the High Court for its renewal.
Timeline
2015: Cloke jailed for five years for a vicious attack on a pregnant woman.
2021: Extended supervision order (ESO) imposed to monitor him after release from prison.
2022: Locked up for four years for two breaches of the order and two charges of assault with intent to injure.
Oct 2024: Cloke released from prison and almost immediately heads to Dunedin in breach of his ESO.
Nov 2024: Jailed for 15 months when he appeared before the Dunedin District Court.
2027: Cloke’s ESO expires.
