Dunedin District Court
SENTENCES imposed by Judge Michael Crosbie in the Dunedin District Court yesterday were. —
John Douglas Taylor (38), shearer, of Milton, possessing offensive weapon, and possessing cannabis (stopped by police for routine breath test, strong odour of cannabis from inside his vehicle, search resulted in him handing over plastic bag containing about 1g cannabis, also in vehicle under carpet between front seats was a metallic knuckleduster), Lakeside Rd, Kaitangata, about 8.45pm, December 7 last year; drinkdriving, 462mcg, and driving while licence suspended, Johnson St, Milton, about 4am, March 1 this year; driving while driver licence suspended (in explanation said he was just going to get milk for his coffee), Union St, Milton, about 6.10am, March 31, overall penalty four months’ community detention (curfewed 7pm5.30am daily), six months’ supervision, disqualified 15 months.
Sydney David L J TumaiRangi Ashton (19), concrete worker, disqualified driving (stopped at red traffic light well over the limit lines, accelerated heavily when lights turned green; in explanation said just finished work, going to get a feed; was apologetic and cooperative with police), about 7.55pm, June 11, fined $500, court costs $130, disqualified six months (from September 3 when current ban ends).
Stella Rehua Austin (35), artist, of Dunedin, assaulting person with whom in family relationship (Austin and victim in relationship about four years; about 4.15pm, June 15, they had argument, victim tried to leave on push bike, Austin tried to stop him, punched him in face; in explanation Austin said, ‘‘I just flipped and hit him in the side of the face’’), six months’ supervision, court costs $130. Public defender Sophia Thorburn said one punch to side of victim’s face; the relationship, ‘‘unhealthy . . . quite tumultuous’’, now ended).
William John Christie (34), shearer, of Waitahuna, cultivating cannabis (‘‘grow’’ with timers, fans and heat lamps in tent in Christie’s spare bedroom; five juvenile plants about 30cm tall, 4.5g of dried cannabis; Christie polite and cooperative with police, said the cannabis for personal use), Lawrence, July 6 last year, 200 hours’ community work, court costs $130.
Sentenced by Judge Emma Smith were. —
Mitchell Ross Pomeroy (23), welder, of Alexandra, drinkdriving, 799mcg (police received reports of defendant's erratic driving, pulled him over, failed breath test; court heard Pomeroy had no previous convictions, Judge said the man must have known he was well over the limit), 9.45pm, June 27, Great King St, fined $400, court costs $130, six months' disqualification.
Colin Gordon Webb (63), driver, of Aramoana, assault (victim and female were cycling south in Aramoana Rd, Webb was driving in the same direction, pulled over and expressed anger they were cycling two abreast, struck the man with an open hand, drove off, stopped again to threaten the pair, later told police he hated all cyclists; defence counsel Anne Stevens QC said Webb had received distressing news about his mother's health immediately before incident, he also suffered from a severe head injury inflicted years earlier), January 16, sixmonth deferred sentence, $500 reparation, court costs $130.
Sentenced by Community Magistrate Simon Heale on
Friday. —
Sasha Marie Kerr (28), of Dunedin, drinkdriving, 1145mcg (about 11.45am, March 21, police received complaint about vehicle entering private property, Palmers Quarry, by driving though gates in Watts Rd; police found the vehicle stuck, about 30m in from the gates, Kerr was a few doors down the road attempting to arrange for the vehicle to be towed out; in explanation she said she was a binge drinker and wanted to go for a scenic drive), nine months’ supervision, disqualified 28 days (alcoholinterlock and zeroalcohol licence provisions to follow). Public defender Karlena Lawrence said Kerr was drinking the night before, stopped about 11pm and got a full night’s sleep, an argument between her and flatmate in the morning, Kerr decided to leave, stopped at a liquor store to get some alcohol for the weekend, did not want to go back to the flat so turned into the driveway in Watts Rd, got stuck, decided to have a few of the drinks she’d just bought, drank three or four 6% cans, after about an hour went for help to get out). Kerr not previously before the court.