A man has been jailed for who hitting his sleeping daughter
with a vacuum cleaner hose to wake her up.
Paul Mandela, 42, of New Plymouth, was sentenced in New
Plymouth District Court yesterday to four months imprisonment
after admitting two charges of assault with a weapon, The
Taranaki Daily News reported.
Defence counsel Lucin Fraser said that Mandela was
overwhelmed trying to raise children alone after their
mother, his former partner, was jailed last year.
He was very remorseful and had since actively engaged with
his church and was trying to keep on the right track.
But Judge Allan Roberts said he would jail Mandela.
His daughter was entitled to protection from him. "On no
basis were you free to strike her. This is what all parents
have to deal with."
Violence was not acceptable and parents were expected to
treat their children with love and respect, the judge said.
"There is no other sentence which would reflect the gravity
of what you did."
Mandela had numerous convictions for domestic violence and
had 12 prison sentences in the past, the judge said.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.