Jeremy Phillip Clark (49) subsequently pleaded guilty to assault in a family relationship.
Despite the violence coming while he was serving a sentence of community detention, the defendant was again sentenced to community detention this week - four months on a curfew.
Judge David Robinson, in the Dunedin District Court, also added nine months’ supervision, during which Clark is banned from using alcohol or illicit drugs.
On May 31, the defendant was ‘‘in an agitated state’’ and had been drinking, the court heard.
When the victim attempted to comfort him it only upset him further and he pushed her in the stomach, winding her and knocking her backwards on to a couch.
Clark left the address in the woman’s vehicle but returned soon after to look for his phone.
His mood remained unchanged and though the victim again tried to assist him, he lashed out, hitting her in the left side of the head and knocking her over.
The woman’s young daughter witnessed at least the latter part of the attack, a court summary noted.
While the girl went to her mother’s aid, Clark added insult to injury.
He squashed eggs, Weet-Bix and other food into the kitchen floor then ‘‘trashed’’ the victim’s bedroom, the court heard.
The defendant also poured milkshake and coffee over the bed before leaving the address.
It had elements of the type of ‘‘possessive behaviour that really worries judges’’, Judge Robinson said.
Police said they later pulled Clark over in North East Valley and found him in confrontational mood.
He was arrested after being threatened with a Taser and continued to act aggressively while being processed.
Judge Robinson said the events arose when Clark was in ‘‘significant distress’’ but that did not excuse his erratic behaviour.
The defendant had a 23-page criminal history but his offending had tapered off in recent years.
‘‘I’d love it to stop altogether,’’ the judge said.
He was heartened to hear Clark was now working and he adjusted the curfew hours so that the man could remain in employment.
