Scaffolder sent packing to anger management

A New Plymouth scaffolder has been sent to anger management and relationship counselling after admitting he assaulted his partner on Christmas Day.

Lex Tako, 25, changed his plea to guilty in the New Plymouth District Court yesterday, prior to a defended hearing.

The court heard how Tako had argued with his partner on December 25.

He had punched her in the face and body picking her up by the top of her trousers and carrying her in a horizontal position into the house.

When police arrived the victim had been unco-operative with police and Tako said he was the victim. He was later charged with injuring her with intent to injure.

Tako's lawyer, Turitea Bolstad, said the couple had been drunk when they began fighting. His partner said the blood that police saw on her face had been from Tako's bleeding nose. Tako had a clean record, she said.

Tako was remanded to May 6 before which he is to undertake 50 hours' voluntary community work, relationship counselling with his partner and undertake an anger management programme. The judge said if this was undertaken to his satisfaction Tako was likely to receive a suspended sentence.

- © Fairfax NZ News