Mac-attack man behind bars

A litterbug who reacted violently to being told to pick up his rubbish by a fast-food worker wants help to deal with his anger problems.

But Ruamarama Mark Pompey, 28, will only be able to get immediate help from inside jail.

The Palmerston North District Court heard on Thursday that Pompey, from Marton, has spent most of his recent jail visit in the disciplinary section, known as ‘‘the pound’’, thanks to his inability to deal with minor conflicts.

Such a conflict saw him sentenced on Thursday to 20 months’ jail for assault with a knife.

The altercation happened after he drove his car into the Mcdonald’s Rangitikei restaurant drivethrough in Palmerston North, at 10.45pm on December 27.

The store’s manager told him to pick up rubbish he had thrown out the window.

Pompey reacted by asking the manager if he knew who he was, before trying to slash him with a knife he pulled from the centre console of his car.

The manager dodged the attack and Pompey left, but was soon arrested.

Defence lawyer Tony Thackery said Pompey never intended to hurt the manager, but knew it would be frightening. ‘‘The victim certainly had reason to believe he was about to be assaulted.’’

Pompey, in custody since the assault, knew the way he reacted to small issues was a problem, Thackery said.

‘‘Most of his stay in custody has been in the pound because of his inability to handle stress. His reaction to even minor things is over the top.’’

A trial on medication had been promising, keeping Pompey out of the pound for the past few weeks, Thackery said. ‘‘These drugs may be the answer for him.’’

Judge Jim Large said Pompey could have been facing a more serious charge if the manager had not moved his arm out of the way.

The judge said Pompey could apply to have his jail time turned into home detention, but only if he was released to a treatment centre to deal with his anger problems. ‘‘Unless you get assistance, Mr Pompey, you are going to spent the bulk of your life in prison, which is not going to assist you, your partner or your child.’’