An October incident, which ended when a man surrendered after an hour of "tense negotiations" with armed police, brought imprisonment when he appeared for sentence in the Dunedin District Court recently.
Stephen John Taylor (48), unemployed, was convicted of 14 offences committed on October 23; stealing a $39.99 pair of headphones from Bond and Bond, between October 19 and 22; four offences committed on August 28; a Crimes Act assault on Paula Jane Duncan, on August 27; a Summary Offences Act assault on a male, on August 7; and breaching community work in failing to report to probation, on July 31.
The October 23 offences were stealing a $129.99 pair of headphones from Bond and Bond; stealing a $69.99 top from Meccano Men's Clothing; stealing a $25 top from Jay Jays; breaching a protection order in damaging property belonging to the protected person, and physically abusing her (one charge for each offence); intentionally damaging a cellphone belonging to Paula Jane Duncan; threatening to kill Miss Duncan (two charges); a Crimes Act assault on her; destroying household contents belonging to Miss Duncan; possessing an offensive weapon (a tomahawk) in circumstances showing intent to use it to commit an offence involving the threat of violence; possessing a knife in the same circumstances; and threatening to kill two policemen (two charges).
The August 28 offences were threatening to injure Miss Duncan with intent to frighten her; disqualified driving on Ventnor St (two charges); and possessing an offensive weapon (a baseball bat and a knife) in circumstances showing intent to commit an offence involving the threat of violence.
Judge Stephen Coyle imposed prison terms, some cumulative and others concurrent, amounting to 23 months and one week.
Bringing the total sentence to two years and one week was an additional month replacing Taylor's unpaid fines.
He also received a 14-month driving disqualification.
In respect of the October incident, the police summary said Taylor and the victim, his then partner, had an altercation in Filleul St and went home where they argued again.
After assaulting the victim, who managed to escape to a neighbouring property and call police, Taylor went on a rampage, smashing her personal items and causing more than $12,000 damage in the house.
When police arrived, Taylor confronted them with a tomahawk and an open pocket knife, stating he would kill them if they came into the house.
He eventually surrendered after an hour of "tense negotiations" with armed police.
Counsel John Westgate said it was accepted the only appropriate sentence was imprisonment.
Taylor and the victim had had a periodic relationship for about seven months.
Taylor said that when released he would have nothing further to do with her.
