After strangling his partner, a Dunedin man attended more than 70 Stopping Violence sessions, but it did not save him from being locked up.
Dean John Middlemass, 44, was sentenced to two years and three months’ imprisonment when he appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday.
He previously admitted assaulting a female and later a jury found him guilty of strangulation.
The court heard that on November 6, 2022, during an argument the defendant pulled his partner off of a bed before kicking her and slapping her face.
He then put his head against hers and said "die c..." before grabbing her by the throat with two hands and strangling her with her back against a wall.
The victim recalled feeling like her feet were lifting off the ground and her eyes would pop out of her head.
Middlemass stopped strangling her when her body started to go limp.
While the defendant admitted assaulting the victim and apologised to her for it, he still had not accepted responsibility for the strangulation, the court heard.
Crown prosecutor Clementine Flatley said the effects on the victim were "significant and ongoing".
She acknowledged the defendant had written a letter of remorse, but it did not address the impact on the victim.
Counsel Liam Collins said his client had attended 72 Stopping Violence sessions and was mentoring others on the course.
Mr Collins said those efforts reduced the risk of Middlemass reoffending.
The defendant was immediately sorry for assaulting the woman, the lawyer said.
Mr Collins said the defendant had attended more Stopping Violence sessions than anyone he had come across before.
"I’m not sure what more efforts he could’ve made in the community on bail," he said.
Judge Robinson agreed, but it was not enough to save Middlemass from prison.
The judge highlighted the defendant was "victim blaming" and "minimising" his behaviour at times.
"I haven’t seen him put his hand on his heart and say I admit I strangled this woman," the judge said.
A pre-sentence report detected a similar attitude.
"[Middlemass] would often justify his actions and he ... doesn’t see the point in receiving a sentence as the incident was two years ago," the report said.
In a statement to the court, the victim said she suffered swelling and bruising from the assault.
She was struggling with her mental health and had nightmares and flashbacks of the incident.
"She lived in fear that you would find her and kill her," Judge Robinson said.
He sentenced Middlemass to 27 months’ imprisonment.
Mr Collins indicated he would appeal the sentence.
felicity.dear@odt.co.nz , Court reporter
