Threats closed Winz office with lockdown

A WOMAN whose threats resulted in a Dunedin Work and Income office being locked down has been locked up for 15 months.

Jacinda RangiMarie Ngatahi Masadma Pennicott (29) went to the premises on the corner of Castle and St Andrew Sts on February 21 to request emergency housing for herself and her daughter.

When the assistant manager said they would not pay for such an arrangement, the defendant lost her temper.

‘‘The defendant lent over the desk towards the victim to intimidate her and swore at her using derogatory words,’’ a police summary said.

‘‘The victim stood up to move away at the same time the defendant left the desk, stating: ‘I’m going to get a gun to shoot you’.’’

Pennicott left the building yelling at security staff.

The branch was closed due to the nature of the threat but reopened later that day.

Judge John Macdonald said Pennicott’s outburst had happened in front of other members of the public, including children, who became upset by her ravings.

‘‘What you did reflects you were frustrated and angry at the time,’’ he told the Dunedin District Court yesterday. ‘‘Still, it’s an extreme reaction to threaten to kill somebody.’’

‘‘In the view of other events that have happened in this country, the matter is viewed very seriously.’’

It was not the end of Pennicott’s woes.

While on bail on September 9, she was seen by police driving in Main South Rd.

They activated lights and sirens to pull her over but she accelerated, making ‘‘a number of erratic turns to get on to the Southern Motorway’’.

Pennicott reached speeds of 135kmh then turned ‘‘suddenly’’ into Kaikorai Valley Rd.

She sped away and officers found her car parked nearby.

A dog unit was called in and tracked her to an associate’s home where she was arrested.

She later admitted charges of dangerous driving, failing to stop (aggravated) and driving while suspended.

The judge noted Pennicott had previous scrapes with the law, including another threat to kill, which got her sentenced to home detention in 2012, and driving charges from 2015.

A Probation report said she had longstanding problems with controlling her anger and had made poor choices over the years with who she befriended.

Alcohol and drugs were also a problem, Judge Macdonald said.

Pennicott was considered at medium risk of reoffending.

Her three children were being cared for by relatives while she served her sentence, the court heard.

Along with the prison term, Pennicott was also banned from driving for a year.