Domestic violence outweighs cancer

In spite of a plea on compassionate grounds for a community-based sentence because Richard Joseph Oneroa needs cancer treatment, his offending was too serious, the judge says.

The 57-year-old, who earlier pleaded guilty to three breaches of a protection order and shoplifting, was told by Judge Tony Walsh that a stern message needed to be sent to the community that the courts won't tolerate breaches of the domestic violence orders and take such offending seriously.

Oneroa's lawyer, Ian Hard, had said his client had liver cancer and wanted to put this type of offending behind him and get on with chemotherapy.

"He wants to get on with his life ... he has some good insight into his offending."

Mr Hard said home detention would allow his client to get the treatment needed.

"He feels bound up by red tape."

But Judge Walsh said he wasn't convinced home detention was "enough of a sentence in this case" as Oneroa had previous convictions for breaching the protection order and assaulting the victim - his then de facto partner.

On September 6, Oneroa and the victim got into an argument about debts and he became angry.

"You abused her and pushed her and said you would kill her if she called police."

Frightened, the victim left and went to a friend's where she called police. Oneroa sent her eight text messages and made abusive threatening phone calls to her, Judge Walsh said.

"The word kill was repeatedly used ... you blamed the victim for what happened. You claimed you had no intention of carrying out the threats."

An aggravating feature of the offending was Oneroa continued breaching the order while on remand in custody by sending her two letters, the judge said.

"The reality is you were letting her know you could contact her when she didn't want any further contact with you. This is serious offending."

Protection orders were to be taken seriously, he said.

"These orders mean what they say. The message has to get out to the community that breaches of protection orders will not be tolerated by the court," he said.

The shoplifting charge relates to Oneroa stealing a food blender from a Masterton store. He was identified by security camera.

He was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment with six months post release conditions.

"I really want you to reflect on what you are doing to your life. I get no satisfaction out of sentencing you to imprisonment but the message has to get out to the community," said the judge.