Driver confronted man after window smashed
An irate driver mounted a footpath in order to confront a man who threw a bottle at his car, smashing a window.
The April 15 stand-off between Allan Latham and a trio of people began about 7.30pm on Frankley Rd in New Plymouth.
The police summary of facts said the 39-year-old suspected the group had tried to break into his friend’s car, which was parked outside his house.
Latham yelled at them and an argument between the defendant and a male from the group started.
‘‘The group walked off and the defendant and his friend decided to follow them in his vehicle to keep an eye on them,’’ the summary of facts stated.
Latham drove ahead of the group on Frankley Rd and pulled over, waiting for them to walk past, but when they didn’t appear he drove back to the spot where he had last seen them.
A male member of the group hurled abuse at the defendant and threw a bottle at Latham’s car, which smashed a window.
‘‘This angered the defendant who drove onto the footpath towards the groups so he could challenge the male about what he had just done,’’ the summary of facts said.
After this, another window in Latham’s car was smashed. In response, Latham took off and parked further down the road. The two parties continued to trade insults until the police arrived.
During yesterday’s hearing in the New Plymouth District Court, Latham pleaded guilty to driving in a dangerous manner.
Lawyer Josie Mooney said Latham decided to drive after the group in order to try and stop them from getting away.
She said Latham intended to file an application asking the court to step back from imposing a driving disqualification due to the special circumstances involved in the case.
He will reappear in the New Plymouth District Court on June 21.