Dunedin District Court
A COUPLE of days in custody for breaching bail had brought home to the defendant the seriousness of his situation, counsel Steve Turner told Judge Kevin Phillips in the Dunedin District Court yesterday.
Jack William Chalmers (23), of Mosgiel, had accepted a sentencing indication and admitted threatening grievous bodily harm, on July 18 last year; disorderly behaviour likely to cause violence and intentionally damaging a vehicle, in Mosgiel on September 21; and behaving threateningly, in Mosgiel on October 3.
The July offence followed a meeting with a probation officer at the probation office.
The meeting went well.
But, about 4pm, Chalmers phoned the probation officer.
Under the impression that he was going to prison, Chalmers yelled aggressively at the officer and made threats about what was going to happen to the officer and his house.
The September incident was in Gladstone Rd North. Standing outside his address when a vehicle drove slowly by, Chalmers moved forward and spat at it, hitting the passenger door.
When the driver stopped and queried his action, Chalmers began kicking the front passenger door and became abusive, swearing at her.
About 12.15pm on October 3, Chalmers was walking near the railway overbridge in Gladstone Rd North. As a woman walking two dogs passed, Chalmers swore at her and called her a ‘‘bitch’’. He continued walking, then turned, followed her and again swore at her and called her a ‘‘bitch’’.
He also told her not to come to the area and said if he saw her again he would ‘‘smash’’ her.
The judge acknowledged Chalmers had difficulties but told him despite his handicaps he had to live by the rules.
‘‘You have to listen to someone or that place you went to in Milton will become your home.’’
Chalmers was sentenced to four months’ community detention (curfewed 8am8pm daily), 130 hours’ community work and nine months’ intensive supervision (with threemonthly judicial monitoring).
Other convictions
A Tony James Wilkins (48), machine operator, of Dunedin, drinkdriving, 193mg (stopped after seen leaving bar), about 11.30pm, April 20, 180 hours’ community work, medical and analyst’s expenses $303, disqualified indefinitely, vehicle confiscated. Judge noted Wilkins had one relevant previous conviction — for refusing a request for blood, in March 2015.
A Susan Veronica Gage (64), administrator, of Dunedin, drinkdriving, 113mg (stopped after leaving tavern car park; said she had consumed about a bottle of wine with friends and thought she would be OK to drive), David St, about 7.30pm, May 3, fined $600, court costs $130, medical and analyst’s expenses $225.25, disqualified six months.
A Travis Ronald Cardno (21), employed, of Dunedin, drinkdriving, 556mcg (breathtested after speed 81kmh in 50kmh zone), Brockville Rd, about 11.50pm, April 20, fined $560, court costs $130, disqualified six months.
A Wayne Eric Muir (59), project manager, of Dunedin, drinkdriving, 481mcg (stopped after seen leaving tavern), Westland St, about 6.30pm, April 13, fined $460, court costs $130, disqualified six months.
A Kyle Riki Macdonald (19), apprentice builder, of Dunedin, drinkdriving as an under20 (stopped by police, said he had driven to the bottle store to buy more alcohol; duty lawyer Rochelle Crossman said ‘‘there may have been an element of peer pressure’’ and that the man’s friends were significantly more intoxicated than him), 221mcg, 10.30pm, May 5, Frederick St, fined $200, court costs $130, three months’ disqualification.
A Andrew Jayden Mercer (24), disqualified driving, Spencer St, Christchurch, about 12.45pm, February 2, 12 months’ intensive supervision (with threemonthly judicial monitoring, requirement to undergo drug and alcohol rehabilitation programme, and not to possess or consume any form of illicit drug), disqualified one year and one month; possessing glass pipe for smoking methamphetamine, six months’ intensive supervision (concurrent). Mercer had previous convictions for disqualified driving but no prior drug conviction.
A Damien van Eekelen (21), of Stirling, breach of postdetention conditions, January 4; breach of community work (sentenced to 150 hours in June last year, failed to report to Probation; defence counsel Brian Kilkelly said his client planned to move to Wairarapa to spend time with his ailing grandmother), January 12, six months’ supervision.
A Craig Stuart Skilton (26), driver, of Dunedin, breaching protection order (behaved in way amounting to psychological abuse of protected person), April 2, six months’ supervision (includes requirement to undergo Stopping Violence programme), $500 emotional harm reparation. Counsel Anne Stevens said Skilton had apologised; restorative justice ‘‘very productive’’.
A Micah James Murdoch (34), of Dunedin, two breaches of protection order (text messaged the protected person, on February 10; contacted protected person via an agent, on May 4), sentence deferred six months.
A Krystina Kaye Milligan (23), of Mosgiel, intentional damage (defendant at former partner’s address, left after short argu ment, returned, threw rock at rear windscreen of car parked in front yard, breaking windscreen, then threw another rock at front windscreen, causing it to crack; victim known to her), Peel St, 9.20am, December 5; assault and two intentional damage offences (defendant with former partner at his home, argument, defendant threw mug of coffee at former partner, mug striking his forehead; defendant left; former partner closed and locked door; defendant hit glass in door, breaking it, unlocked door, went into house to look for her phone, unable to find it, left with former partner’s phone; from road, yelled at former partner to give back her phone, threw his phone on to road, stomped on it causing it to break, threw it towards him), about 4am, February 21, nine months’ supervision. Judge noted Milligan had no previous convictions; attributed the offending to her devastation at the relationship ending.