Dunedin District Court
THE defendant now had seven convictions for like offending within eight years, Judge Michael Turner said, sentencing a woman on three offences of driving while her licence was suspended and an associated charge of failing to stop for police.
The offences were all within the period of a threemonth suspension imposed on February 24 for excess demerit points, the Dunedin District Court heard yesterday.
Nicola Mary Anngow (34), of Mosgiel, had admitted driving while suspended, in King St, Timaru, on March 26; driving while suspended and failing to stop for police ‘‘red and blues’’, in Mosgiel, about 4.15pm on April 7; and driving while suspended, in Theodosia St, Timaru, about 11.40pm, on May 4.
Describing the offending as ‘‘a persistent and deliberate’’ flouting of the suspension, the judge said in his view the only response was a sentence of imprisonment.
Anngow received a total sentence of 11 months’ jail (with six months’ release conditions) and 18 months’ disqualification; and her unpaid fines ($8780) were remitted.
Other conviction
Kupa Michael Strange (39), of Dunedin, impeding breathing (Strange and victim in onoff relationship and lived together until about six months before offence; about 9.30pm, April 14, victim caught taxi to Strange’s flat, argument began and escalated, Strange so enraged he pushed victim backwards on to bed and straddled her, his knees either side of her torso; put his hand(s) around her throat, applied pressure for several seconds preventing her from breathing freely, then released her; argument continued during evening, Strange strangled victim a second time, pinning her down on bed, straddling her, using hands to grab her throat and cover her mouth and nose, did so about 510 seconds, told her to shut up or he would put her to sleep, she could not breathe and was unable to move; Strange drove her home the following morning; victim had sore neck from strangulation), six months’ home detention (with six months’ postdetention conditions), additional month’s home detention in place unpaid fines (about $9000). Judge Jim Large noted Strange had positive presentence report and ‘‘very fortunate’’ to have supportive whanau; said Crown (Craig Power) ‘‘very generously’’ acknowledged Strange in custody almost five months, supported home detention; judge told Strange, ‘‘you’re being given an opportunity I trust you won’t abuse’’.
Convictions by Judge Michael Turner on Tuesday.—
Hemi Sampson TipaMcQueen (21), of Dunedin, burglary (defendant smashed a window to break into St Clair garage, was observed leaving the garage with a screwdriver, TipaMcQueen used the tool on a window to get into house, scoured rooms, rummaged through drawers, left with cash through back door), July 21, 18 months’ imprisonment, $400 reparation, $1082 fines remitted (TipaMcQueen still owed reparation of more than $13,000).
Corey John Sickels (49), butcher, of Balclutha, two charges of intimidation (offending came in the context of relationship breakdown), January 28; threatening to kill (while on bail Sickels repeatedly called his former partner, told her he would slit her throat, made further calls through the day; defence counsel Jim Takas said his client had no previous convictions and was willing to ‘‘take his medicine’’, was not proposing an electronically monitored sentence), August 16, nine and ahalf months’ imprisonment, protection order granted in favour of victim.
William Arthur Rowe (41), carpenter, of Dunedin, theft (stole $30 of fuel from Mataura service station), September 5, 2019; breach of release conditions (failed to report to Probation), November 27; three charges of obtaining by deception (Rowe advertised goods for sale on Facebook using his dead father’s name, funds were paid by victims, defendant failed to provide items), December 1112; theft of vehicle, careless driving (Rowe and others went to ‘‘repossess’’ vehicle, owner refused to surrender it, group went to property 150km away, stole car worth $11,000, an hour later crashed down a bank, wrote car off), December 21; theft (stole $60 fuel from Rolleston service station), March 8; theft (stole $40 fuel from Christchurch service station), March 16; shoplifting (stole $55 of clothing from Rangiora department store; counsel Alex Bligh said Rowe had ‘‘lifelong issues with drugs’’, she said he had previously been to prison but now wanted to address his methamphetamine addiction), May 26; 11 months’ home detention, 12 months’ disqualification, $6283 reparation.
Riki Alexander Loper (47), factory worker, of Dunedin, careless driving, aggravated drinkdriving, 1111mcg (fifth such conviction, last was 20 years ago; driving uphill, good road conditions, crossed the centre line, hit legallyparked car, continued 20m30m up the road before stopping, front wheel was extensively damaged, parked vehicle sustained moderate damage, Loper said he had been drinking with a friend and was travelling home; the court heard defendant was going through personal issues at the time, had lost his job because of Covid19 and had broken up with partner), 11.35pm, July 25, Ravenswood Rd, one month community detention, 100 hours’ community work, nine months’ supervision, $4411 reparation, one year one day disqualification.