Tekita Paraire Biddle (32), who was deported from Australia in 2018, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday for crimes Judge Emma Smith called "vicious" and "cowardly".
The spree of violence began on July 19 when the defendant squeezed the family budgie, causing it serious injury.
When his then-girlfriend refused to "finish off" the bird, Biddle stuffed it into a sock and slammed it against the wall, killing it.
A month later, the court heard, the defendant was seen bin-diving outside the Salvation Army shop in Princes St.
When an employee saw him rifling through the skip, he warned about the risk of injury from broken glass.
It prompted a heated response from Biddle, whose anger intensified when the man photographed his vehicle.
The defendant said he was looking for food, so the staff member offered to retrieve some from a foodbank.
There was a resounding rejection from Biddle, who advanced on the victim and punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground, before hitting him again.
The court heard the victim suffered severe bruising and swelling to his eye and required dental work as a result of the attack.
On August 28, an argument broke out at the emergency accommodation at which Biddle was living with his partner.
After threatening to stab her and her child, the defendant turned his rage on their 5-month-old puppy.
Biddle said he would "stab the eyes out" of the pet.
He then began throwing apples at it with such force that some broke on impact.
His partner left the room and found a wound on the dog’s snout when she returned moments later, court documents said.
Biddle, wielding a kitchen knife, claimed he would slit its throat.
When police arrived at the scene they found the defendant hiding under a blanket in the footwell of his car.
He only submitted to arrest after officers threatened him with a Taser.
Counsel Liam Collins said his client — who pleaded guilty to six charges — had no memory of the events and was suffering acute mental health issues at the time.
However, he conceded that was not helped by Biddle’s use of illicit substances and avoidance of prescribed medication.
Reports detailed deprivation suffered by the defendant through his youth and his battles with addiction to opiates and methamphetamine.
Judge Smith noted Biddle had already been locked up once since his return to New Zealand.
She highlighted the "vile nature" of the most recent violence and called the threats "nasty, determined and cowardly".
Mr Collins said Biddle was shocked by his own behaviour but was proud of the progress he had made while behind bars.
