Repercussions from counselling service’s demise
A Christchurch man has become a “victim” of the demise of Relationships Aotearoa.
He was before the court today for sentencing on charges of assault and wilful damage, arising from four incidents involving family members.
There had been a psychiatric report prepared, but Probation’s report on the case recommended imprisonment.
Defence counsel Bridget Ayrey was arguing for individual counselling and supervision.
Judge Jane Farish agreed, but she said it was not realistic because the man was not assessed as being a high enough risk to warrant getting Corrections Department treatment from a psychologist for his anger problem.
She said he had been in a therapeutic relationship with a counsellor at Relationships Aotearoa but that organisation had been disestablished when its funding was suddenly cut in May.
“After it was disestablished, his risk of offending increased,” said the judge.
The judge then got creative, deferring the man’s sentencing for six months to allow him to get the appropriate medication and to get counselling from a new therapist to work on the issues that have been affecting him for some time.
He is not allowed to have any contact with his mother – the victim of some of the offending – in the meantime.
Judge Farish will see him again on March 1, to see how he has progressed and impose a non-custodial sentence. If he has offended again in the meantime, he will be heading for jail.
Category: Observations
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