Judge Paul said the assault with the dog was the lead offence but the sentence would also cover a second set of charges arising from a driving matter.
Kutia pleaded guilty and was convicted of driving while disqualified for the third or subsequent time, failing to stop for police flashing lights and refusing to give a blood specimen.
When pursued, he refused to pull over, slowed right down, then accelerated away. He was unco-operative and refused screening for alcohol consumption.
Sentence for the driving matters included indefinite disqualification and a requirement for Kutia to obtain a zero alcohol licence before he could legally drive again.
Counsel Leighvi Maynard said all Kutia's offending could be attributed to alcohol.
But he now recognised his issues and was taking positive steps to improving himself, including enrolment at a polytechnic literacy and numeracy course.
Judge Paul said Kutia had a history of offending on bail and could not escape a prison term.
His recent efforts to upskill himself would not go to waste and were taken into account during the sentencing process as a three-month discount.
- Gisborne Herald
