A jilted boyfriend who kidnapped his ex-girlfriend, leading to a manhunt in remote bush on Great Barrier Island, has been sentenced to eight and a half years' jail.

Former Riverton man, Nathan Boulter, 22, appeared in the High Court at Auckland today. In April, Boulter had pleaded guilty to nine charges of assaulting and kidnapping his former girlfriend Nortessa Montgomerie and attacking her new boyfriend.

Speaking from Riverton, Boulter's mother, said she was upset but would continue to be there and support her son after hearing of his sentencing today.

Boulter was arrested on Great Barrier Island in January last year after kidnapping Ms Montgomerie and holding her captive in the bush for 38 hours.

Boulter and the victim were in a relationship for six months in 2010.

The pair split up and the woman returned to her home on Great Barrier Island later that year.

In December, Boulter travelled from his home in Riverton to Auckland, intending to find and contact Ms Montgomerie.

He sent her abusive Facebook messages, including one telling her he was going to kill himself, which she complained about to police.

Boulter booked a one-way ticket to Great Barrier Island in January 2011, using the fake name Travis Tetoski to avoid police detection.

Police say Boulter didn't know anyone else on Great Barrier Island and didn't make any arrangements to leave.

He went to Ms Montgomerie's house and some time after 8.30pm entered through an open side door.

Boulter went upstairs to the victim's bedroom, hid under the bed and waited for her and her new boyfriend to go to bed.

When the pair lay down, he struck the boyfriend on the back of his head with a hard object.

The woman screamed for Boulter to stop but he struck her in the head as well before beating her boyfriend unconscious.

She then ran screaming from the bedroom into the hallway, where she tried to call for help. However, Boulter knocked her unconscious, punching her in the back and kneeing her in the head.

He then picked her up and dragged her across farmland and into the bush.

Boulter kept his former girlfriend – wearing just her singlet top and pyjama pants, and no shoes – captive for over 38 hours.

During that time he threatened and subjected her to physical abuse.

The pair were eventually found by searchers while they were walking along a pig-hunting track.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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