Queenstown District Court
A WELSHMAN was so drunk he did not know what he was doing on October 13 when he assaulted a female, assaulted a man and punched a hole in the wall of a Queenstown backpackers, Judge John BrandtsGiesen said.
Earlier this month, the Queenstown District Court heard Ethan Edward Hughes (23) entered a shared room at the Southern Laughter backpackers where he, the female victim and a number of other people were staying.
He fell to the floor ‘‘due to the level of his intoxication’’, so the woman tried to help him to his bed. Instead, he tried to get into hers.
When she tried to stop him he became angry and ‘‘pushed his forehead against her forehead in a threatening manner and struck her in the left temple with a closed fist’’.
Hughes went to the lounge and woke up the male victim, who had been sleeping on a couch.
He asked Hughes to calm down but was attacked ‘‘repeatedly’’.
One of Hughes’ associates also tried to calm him down but in a corner Hughes punched a wall, leaving a large hole.
The male victim received swelling to his left eye, while the woman was shaken but uninjured.
Hughes had since completed 75 hours’ voluntary community work and paid reparation for the wall.
Judge BrandtsGiesen did not believe Hughes had any sinister intentions in trying to get into the woman’s bed.
‘‘I think it was just because you were so drunk you didn’t know what you were doing.
‘‘However, that has had an impact on her.
‘‘She actually helped you quite a bit while you were in Queenstown.
‘‘You’ve caused her anxiety and some grief.’’
Hughes was ordered to pay the woman $300 emotional harm reparation and was convicted and discharged on the other two charges.
French troublemaker
A former employee of The London has been ordered to pay the business $530 reparation after admitting a charge of burglary dated July 16.
Sacha Valentin Deshays (23), waiter, of France, living in Queenstown, was also ordered to pay another $514.68 reparation to DF Souvenirs after admitting he wilfully damaged a glass window in an unrelated incident on July 29.
Sgt Collin said Deshays was dismissed from The London earlier this year after he was found ‘‘sneaking people through the staff entrance to avoid security’’.
About five weeks later, he and an unknown associate used the staff entry to gain access to the premises before Deshays used a code he remembered from his employment to gain further access.
The pair ultimately went to a chiller — Deshays stood outside while his associate entered and removed two cardboard boxes.
One, containing six bottles of wine, valued at $40, and a bladder of ‘‘lemonade syrup’’, valued at $490, was handed to Deshays who left with it.
Deshays was identified by CCTV footage and initially denied the offending.
On July 28 he was with another associate and had been drinking when they began kicking the glass panel of the DF Souvenirs store, causing it to crack, at 3.50am.
Sgt Collin said Deshays had ‘‘managed to attract quite a bit of attention’’ in a short time, having been convicted for assault with a weapon in May.
Judge BrandtsGiesen initially considered imposing a fine, how ever, he determined community work would be a ‘‘better reminder . . . [of] how stupid you have been and how much trouble you have caused’’.
Along with reparation, Deshays was also sentenced to 120 hours’ community work, to be completed before his visa expires in February.
Assaulted partner
A man who assaulted his partner in August was sentenced to 200 hours’ community work and nine months’ supervision.
The 41yearold admitted the charge, which was laid following an incident at his home on August 25.
Judge BrandtsGiesen heard the woman walked home when he failed to pick her up.
When she arrived he confronted her, spoke aggressively and stood close to her, causing her to fear he would hit her.
‘‘She used the back of her hand across the side of his face to get him to back off,’’ prosecuting sergeant Ian Collin said.
She walked into a child’s bedroom, he followed and struck her with his hand before dragging her by her jacket through the house to the kitchen.
After he released her she started putting away groceries, but the man came back and pushed the open fridge door ‘‘on her’’.
She raised a glass bottle of cider and struck him ‘‘lightly’’ on the side of the head — he knocked the groceries from her hand, causing her to fall and the bottle to smash.
Diversion was initially considered but did not go ahead.
Judge BrandtsGiesen said that would have been ‘‘totally unsuitable’’.
‘‘This was a serious assault — not necessarily highend assault but cumulative assaults which were . . . totally unacceptable.’’
While the man had no previous convictions, the judge said his offending ‘‘can’t simply be swept under the carpet’’.
Other convictions
Jamin Kane Beattie (26), retailer, of Queenstown, driving while his blood contained evidence of the use of a controlled drug (THC), Fernhill Rd, September 28,fined $600, court costs $130, disqualified six months, medical expenses $73.47, analyst fees $668.94.
Matthew Scott (20), builder, of Queenstown, driving while disqualified, Lomond Cres, November 14 at Queenstown, 70 hours’ community work, cumulative on an existing sentence, disqualified six months from March 31, 2019.
Shane Bettink (24), bartender, of Sunshine Bay, trespass, Fresh Choice, November 15, at Queenstown, sentence deferred 12 months.