Adam Norman was sentenced to 12 years in prison in Tauranga District Court on Tuesday afternoon for repeated sexual and physical abuse against his former partner, who told the court he treated her body like it belonged to him.
Judge Jan Kelly ordered the 23 year old to serve at least six years in prison before being eligible for parole.

Adam Norman during sentencing in Tauranga District Court on Tuesday afternoon.

Norman abused his partner, 12 years his senior, over a period spanning more than two years.
The 35 year old Tauranga woman, who has name suppression, said in her victim impact statement during sentencing that Norman told her the only way she could leave him was if she was dead.

She said he threatened that he was a butcher and knew how to dismember her body so she would never be found.

A jury found Norman guilty of nine charges, including injuring with intent to injure, threatening to kill, sexual violation, discharging an airgun with reckless disregard, assault with a weapon, two counts of rape and assault on a child under 14.

Norman's partner says she has been left mentally scarred by the sexual and physical attacks, which became a daily occurrence during their relationship.

The relationship started in April 2006 while they were both living in Rotorua and continued when the victim moved back to Tauranga and Norman followed her.

During the ongoing abuse, the victim's three young children from another relationship were living with the pair and witnessed the violence.

'My children are still suffering living with fear. They didn't feel safe and protected,” the woman told the court.

'I thought my children were better off without me, and as a result I tried to take my own life.

'How could someone who said he loved me hurt me in so many ways?”

A 15 year old, who also has name suppression, described in his victim impact statement how Norman ruined his family's life.

'Adam ruined that time in our lives. It should have been stress free but it wasn't.”

He also told the court how he now has trouble concentrating and endures various health problems.

'Adam has robbed me of a childhood that I will never get back. I was forced to grow up quickly.”

Defence lawyer Tony Balme urged Judge Kelly not to issue a minimum term of imprisonment, saying his client needed an incentive to engage in rehabilitative programmes in prison and would be 'crushed” by a lengthy sentence.

Judge Kelly said the six year minimum sentence was needed to reflect Norman's culpability and the gravity of his offending.