Dunedin District Court

‘‘AT 26 he needs to be sorting himself out because he’s young, but not that young. It’s time he grew up. I’ve told him that,’’ counsel John Westgate said at sentencing in the Dunedin District Court yesterday.

Christopher Cody Mason, of Dunedin, had been convicted of driving and dishonesty offences and breaching release conditions.

He had admitted unlawfully taking two cars and eight related charges — three of disqualified driving, two driveoff petrol thefts, and single charges each of dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, and failing to stop after the vehicle he was driving was involved in a noninjury accident; and breaching release conditions.

The police summary said Mason unlawfully took a $5000 Volkswagen from the student area on April 7, using keys he stated he had found in the gutter. Later that night he put $79.62 worth of petrol in the Volkswagen at Z Energy Andersons Bay and drove off without paying.

About 12.10am on April 8, a police patrol saw the Volkswagen being driven erratically in Dick St and turning at speed into Wesley St.

With the patrol car’s red and blue lights and siren activated, police followed the Volkswagen.

Mason ignored police, speeded up and drove through stop signs in Macandrew Rd, Melbourne and Oxford Sts before turning into Bay View Rd in an attempt to flee.

In Mills St, after crashing into a car in which a woman was sitting talking to a friend, he got out of the Volkswagen and ran off, without checking to see if anyone was injured.

On April 20, again in the student area, Mason obtained a key to a Honda car.

On April 25, after using the Honda for some days, he put $70.10 worth of petrol into it at Mosgiel Mobil and drove off without paying.

About 11.45pm, he was seen by police at Allanton and subsequently arrested.

His release condition breach was in failing to report to probation, between April 17 and 24.

Mr Westgate said Mason was very remorseful ‘‘and did get his head down very quickly’’.

Judge Phillips said Mason had an atrocious history. The disqualified driving offences were his seventh, eighth and ninth such offences.

In the presentence report, Mason expressed hopelessness about his circumstances and lack of support, the judge noted.

Mason was assessed at very high risk of offending. Past interventions had all failed, the judge said.

Mason was sentenced to two years and one month’s jail and received driving disqualifications which mean he will remain disqualified until September 6, 2020.

The two year and onemonth prison term was imposed on one of the unlawful taking offences.

Shorter concurrent terms were given on all other charges.

The longest driving disqualification, one year and six months from December 6 this year when his current ban ends, was on one of the disqualified driving charges. But to follow the 18month ban is a threemonth disqualification for failing to stop for red and blue flashing lights. park; stopped after police activated patrol car’s red and blue flashing lights), Exmouth St, Kaitangata, about 10pm, May 23, fined $850, court costs $130, disqualified nine months. Judge said Haig’s one previous drinkdrive conviction ‘‘20odd years ago’’.

Tylar Kevin Robb (25), car groomer, of Momona, disqualified driving, and drinkdriving, 541mcg (stopped for speeding,122kmh, on southern motorway between Fairfield and Green Island; produced restricted licence but later admitted being banned; said had consumed five or six bourbons, been dropped at home, needed to get wallet and phone from friend’s place where he had left them), about 1.45am, March 17, disqualified driving (two previous convictions for driving while suspended), three months’ community detention (curfewed 7pm Fridays to 6am Mondays), 150 hours’ community work, nine months’ supervision, disqualified one year and one month; drinkdriving (one prior conviction, in 2011), 60 hours’ community work (cumulative, making total term 210 hours), disqualified eight months (concurrent).

Ngametua Junior Ngatae (39), selfemployed painter, of Dunedin, drinkdriving, 523mcg (random breath test; admitted consuming three bottles beer;

AAsaid going to work), Macandrew Rd, about 9.50pm, May 31, 90 hours’ community work, disqualified eight months. One previous drinkdrive conviction, in 2005, judge noted.

Tyler Daisley (43), tattooist, of Dunedin, representative charge of breaching protection order (by text messaging victim), February 18, six months’ jail (with six months’ release conditions from expiry date). Counsel John Westgate told judge the text messages ‘‘completely blank’’, Daisley accepted responsibility ‘‘and wants you to know he has got the message about just how seriously protection breaches are taken’’, Daisley in custody since February 23 ‘‘equivalent of about eightmonth custodial sentence’’. Judge noted breach by text but nothing contained within the text, Daisley made no threats to victim; said Daisley had past convictions for threatening and was no stranger to imprisonment.

Hamish Te Raki (19), of Dunedin, breaching protection order (damaged protected person’s car by kicking side panels numerous times), March 18, 120 hours’ community work, 12 months’ intensive supervision (with special conditions and threemonthly judicial monitoring); breaching intensive supervision (failed to report to probation), March 22, 12 months’ intensive

AAsupervision (concurrent). Judge took into account protected person, related to Te Raki, ‘‘no doubt, would rather you were rehabilitated than imprisoned’’.

Jimmy Desmond John Lodge (19), baker, of Dunedin, Crimes Act assault (dispute between Lodge and another; victim stepped in to calm matters; Lodge headbutted him, punched him in face; victim received cut above eye needing five stitches, facial bruising), January 6, 150 hours’ community work, $60 reparation (immediately), $600 emotional harm reparation (lump sum no later than September 30). Public defender Sophia Thorburn said Lodge a first offender, very remorseful for what he did. Judge said victim selfconscious about scar, will require plastic surgery.

Thomas Leslie Evan Jenkins (49), of Dunedin, stealing two packets meat, total value $36.38 (said hungry, didn’t have money to pay), Pak’N Save, about 7.50pm, June 7, 50 hours’ community work, reparation as ordered; trespassing on Pak’N Save, 40 hours’ community work (cumulative, making total hours 90).

Vanessa Constable (22), of Dunedin, breaching community work (failed to report to probation), May 10, existing sentence cancelled, outstanding hours (98.5) remitted, new 60hour term.

AAA