'Maggot' name-caller gets home detention

File photo / NZ Herald

A West Coast man who in a drunken rage kicked a wall, kicked the dog, pinned his partner down on the bed by her arms, then dragged her out to the lounge and threw her on the couch had "gone a little too far," his lawyer told a court.

Corey William Hansen, 26, of Runanga, appeared in Greymouth District Court on Tuesday for sentencing on charges of assault and driving with excess breath-alcohol, his third drink-driving conviction.

He was sentenced to five months' community detention, 140 hours' community work and disqualified from driving for nine months.

On August 10, Hansen was affected by alcohol and cannabis when he went home and provoked a row.

When his partner retired to the bedroom, Hansen woke their two-year-old son and instructed him to go and tell his mother that she was "a maggot".

He then kicked a wall, kicked the dog, pinned his partner down on the bed by her arms and dragged her out to the lounge.

The drink-driving charge arose after Hansen did a U-turn and tried to drive off when confronted by police checkpoint.

Lawyer George Linder said Hansen was trying to move on with his life and had not taken a drink since.

"The assault was not too serious and he knows he went a little bit too far. She started it and he just pushed her back on the bed. He no longer drinks or takes drugs," the lawyer said.

Judge Paul Kellar said Hansen had not demonstrated any remorse and had tried to minimise the seriousness of the offending.

"Using the young son as you did does you no credit at all."

- The Greymouth Star