'Appallingly bad' father jailed

File photo / Greg Bowker

A judge has jailed a man he described as "an appallingly bad father" for two years and nine months for assaulting and neglecting his children.

The 37-year-old man, who has name suppression, was earlier convicted on four charges of assaulting two of his children and one of wilful neglect.

The High Court at Auckland had been told the father of eight had assaulted his 12-year-old daughter with repeated blows with a broom and punches to the stomach.

He also punched one of his sons in the stomach.

In sentencing the man, Justice Geoffrey Venning said he could not accept he had shown any remorse for his actions.

"You say you're not a violent man, and you've been a good father over the years. That's nonsense.

"You are not a good father. You are an appallingly bad father. You've failed to care properly for your children. They have witnessed and been subjected to violence throughout their young and short lives," Justice Venning said.

He read a victim impact statement to the man from his eldest daughter, which described her being beaten often.

"She really hates you because of the hidings you gave her, and she thinks she would have turned out better if she was better looked after. She's happy you're no longer in her life," the statement read.

The man's son said in his victim impact statement he didn't remember much about what happened, but he said his dad used to beat him up and he'd get bruises.

The man was jailed for two years and nine months for assault with a weapon, 12 months on three charges of assault and six months for wilful neglect. The sentences will run concurrently.

The lawyer for the man, Paul Borich, said the man regretted his actions.

"He said he was out of control during the offences, which is why he says he'll never hit them again," Mr Borich said.

But Justice Venning said while the man might regret the situation he was in, he did not appear to show any remorse of the offending.

"These violent assaults on your children were caused by an inability to control yourself.

"I do not accept you understand the gravity of your offending and I do not believe your remorse is genuine," Justice Venning said.

The man had previous convictions for violence, the court was told.

The man was jointly charged, with the children's 33-year-old mother, with neglect.

The mother's charges included failing to act to deter or prevent the children from being hit by their father.

Jo Scott, defending the woman, made submissions for a sentence of supervision, with or without community work.

"She had her first child at 18, and her neglect is not all encompassing. There were lots of things she did do as a parent.

"She fully accepts her part by neglecting her children and not taking responsibility," Ms Scott said.

But Justice Venning said there were lots of things she didn't do which a parent would be expected to do.

"The nature of her offending speaks for itself," he said.

Her sentencing was adjourned until November 4, so a suitable address for home detention could be considered.

During the trial in July, the couple's eldest daughter told the court that a sexual assault arranged by her father for $40 was all lies to get him into trouble. The charge was withdrawn.

Both parents pleaded guilty to their amended charges, which were read out in court before the jury was discharged.

- NZPA