A Waihi man who threatened to kill his ex-partner with a butcher knife has been jailed for 16 months.
Mark Williams, 50, who earlier pleaded guilty to one charge each of male assaults female, assault with intent to injure and intentional damage plus two charges of threatening to kill, was sentenced
in Tauranga District Court earlier this week.
The court was told on Christmas Day when Williams and the victim began arguing, he grabbed her by the throat and threw her to the floor.
Then on January 28, after an exchange of text messages, including one in which he told the victim she had "just signed her death warrant", he drove to her Old Te Aroha Rd home armed with a butcher knife and entered the house uninvited.
Grabbing the victim's throat with one hand, Williams brought the knife blade up under her chin and told the woman he was going to kill her before stabbing her cellphone.
Williams then slashed four tyres on the victim's vehicle and again grabbed her around the neck.
Judge Louis Bidois said Williams could apply for home detention.
He was ordered to pay $1224 reparation for the car, and a further $500 for emotion harm.
