Thefts admitted

Hamilton

A woman who is part of the ‘‘unruly’’ family travelling New Zealand and causing mayhem, has pleaded guilty to two theft charges. Tina Maria Cash, 26, appeared on two charges of theft in the Hamilton District Court yesterday after spending a night in the police cells. She was ordered to pay up $55.20 by 4pm for the energy drink, sunglasses and rope she stole from a petrol station at Albany, near Auckland, – on December 31 and January 4. Cash arrived in the country on November 29 on a six-month travelling visa. She told police she did not remember taking the items but accepted it was her caught on the store’s surveillance system. Community Magistrate Ngaire Mascelle took into account Cash’s early guilty plea and her night spent in police cells. Members of her family arrived at court yesterday morning, shielding their faces from waiting media. One of the family members later hit a Stuff journalist with a shoe after she was approached for comment. Cash was flanked by a girl and a young boy as she left court. Earlier, the boy – a shirtless toddler – made an obscene gesture and yelled at media and onlookers on his way into court. It’s not the only brush with the law the family, believed to be from Liverpool, England, have had while in New Zealand. On Tuesday the family caught the attention of police in Hamilton when they caused problems at a fast-food outlet. They were later stopped by police because two young children in their car were not in appropriate carseats. The family first came to the attention of the New Zealand public after allegedly leaving a mess at Takapuna Beach on Sunday. Immigration NZ said deportation liability notices were served on individuals involved in the incident at the fast-food outlet.