Protection orders breached 11 times

Daniel Walter Jope, 30, appeared in Masterton District Court and pleaded guilty to one charge of breaching a protection order.

A man who continuously breached a protection order, taken out by his former partner, was sent to prison for four months.

Daniel Walter Jope, 30, appeared in Masterton District Court and pleaded guilty to one charge of breaching a protection order.

The protection order was issued in 2002. On June 27 Jope had been at his former partner's home, he got up to get their children ready for school and shouted at the woman that she was fat, ugly and lazy.

The verbal abuse had been ongoing for several days and the woman decided to contact the police.

Defence lawyer Louise Elder said Jope and the woman had been in a "difficult" relationship for a long time.

"[With] both behaving badly at times. This occurred at a stressful time, while they were trying to get the kids to school.

"Mr Jope is a young man that does need help to live a more constructive life."

Ms Elder said the abuse was two-way and the breach was not "the most serious of them".

Judge Peter Hobbs said Jope had 11 convictions for breaching protection orders.

"On it's own it's not the most serious breach, but for your history it might not attract a sentence of imprisonment. You have 11 convictions for breaching protection orders in the past, you don't seem to have learned your lesson," Judge Hobbs said.

He sentenced Jope to four months' imprisonment with release conditions to attend a stopping family violence programme and alcohol and drug counselling, as directed by probation.