A Dunedin man who relentlessly pursued his former partner says he "turned into a monster" when drinking alcohol.
Nico Erik Bloemsaat, 33, appeared in the Dunedin District Court this week after admitting two counts of breaching a protection order, as well as intentional damage and unlawfully being in a yard.
The court heard his recent crimes came against a background of incessant abuse including a conviction for strangulation, which Judge David Robinson highlighted as particularly concerning.
"That assumes real significance because it’s a reliable predictor of a future fatal attack," he said.
"It gives me real concern about ongoing risk to the victim in this case."
Bloemsaat was released from a short stint behind bars in August, but it took only a fortnight for him to renew his obsession with his ex.
The defendant stood outside the woman’s workplace and repeatedly asked her work colleagues whether she was inside the building, the court heard.
Once the victim became aware of Bloemsaat lurking outside, she hid in an office and called the man’s mother.
He left the site when informed police were on their way.
But later that day, Bloemsaat continued the pursuit, this time remotely, calling the woman 13 times.
On September 1, he was charged with breaching the protection order and granted bail when he appeared in court.
The ongoing prosecution, though, was not enough to quell Bloemsaat’s overbearing tendencies.
He turned up at the victim’s home, banging on the door, yelling that he knew her partner was in there.
The defendant continued the raucousness until the partner told him to leave.
Bloemsaat responded by putting his fist through a window and grabbing the man’s shoulder.
After being punched twice, the defendant stumbled away and was picked up by police shortly afterwards.
Counsel Sarah Cochrane said alcohol had been a factor in every crime to Bloemsaat’s name.
She said he was now committed to undergoing residential rehabilitation and accepted he could never see his former partner again.
Judge Robinson noted Bloemsaat had previously said he "turned into a monster" when using alcohol.
It was imperative he addressed his drinking imminently, the judge said.
Future offending would just mean the prison sentences got longer, he said.
Bloemsaat was jailed for 13 months.
— Rob Kidd, Court reporter
