Acts meant victim lived ‘in constant state of fear'
Joshua Marc Hotton, 33, appeared in the Dunedin District Court last week, where he was jailed for 15 months (on two assaults and two breaches of a protection order) for prolonged and persistent controlling behaviour, which left the victim "living in a constant state of fear".
Judge Hermann Retzlaff was particularly struck by the "cruelty" in some of the defendant's acts, which included threats against his then-partner's dog, claims he had hacked a social-media account to monitor her conversations and an incident in which he filmed the victim during an assault.
Hotton first appeared in court on November 28, the day after police had been called to his home over the first reported attack.
Two days later, while on bail, he fought on the Punch With Purpose III Charity Fight Night card at the Dunedin Town Hall — an event run by Otepoti Boxing Club — and won.
Organiser Chase Reihana Haley told the Otago Daily Times he became aware criminal charges had been laid against Hotton, but neither the boxer nor police would confirm the nature of the allegations.
"Our kaupapa is designed around helping the community. If we were aware of the charges, I would have had to take it back to the board and sit down with the board and understand what was going on and come to an agreement ... and make a decision, but that wasn't the case," Mr Reihana Haley said.
"There was a lot of people coming to watch the fight that he was booked in for, and yeah, I just had to get it over the line, really. Both him and his opponent had trained for 10 weeks and raised money to go towards local charities, and yeah, it's like we were put into a position where, you know, two days out — what do we do here?"
Hotton's behaviour, detailed in court documents, became increasingly manipulative following the charity bout.
He would use "offensive and threatening" language to force his partner to bend to his will, threatening to leave her dog on the road if she did not comply with his demands.
In February, Hotton left her a series of recorded voice messages which featured whispered words designed to scare the woman.
The following month he made claims of infidelity and told the victim he had hacked her mother's Facebook account so he could see if she was "up to something".
On March 17 came the final act.
The victim visited Hotton to discuss financial matters; he reacted by picking her up and slamming her to the floor repeatedly.
He then knelt on her chest and slapped her face, prompting her to grab an object to defend herself.
"The defendant became amused by this and started recording ... and mocking her," a police summary said.
The victim read a statement in court and was commended for her bravery by Judge Retzlaff.
"I tolerated manipulation disguised as love. I endured words that left bruises I couldn't show. And I walked on eggshells every single day — scared that the smallest word or glance could set him off," she said.
"I was promised things would change. But they never did — they only got worse."
The woman emphasised the massive resolve it took to finally involve police.
"It wasn't just strength for me. It was strength for our children. For their future. So that they never have to grow up believing love looks like fear," she said.
"I will not be broken. I am rebuilding. I am healing. I am still standing. I am a mother. I am a woman."
rob.kidd@odt.co.nz , Court reporter
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