Abuser trespassed from council office

A man who abused council staff has been banned from visiting its offices for two years.

On August 15, Peter Robin White went to the Stratford District Council building on Miranda St to look at a map.

But things got out of hand when White started abusing the staff who were trying to help him.

Sergeant Lewis Sutton told the New Plymouth District Court that after the defendant got aggressive, he was asked to leave.

When he refused, police were called and escorted him out of the building.

A trespass notice banning White from visiting the office for the next two years was then issued to him.

Sutton said shortly after this happened, White threw the written note onto the ground and walked back into the building.

On Wednesday, White pleaded guilty to wilful trespass.

In submissions explaining the defendant’s actions, lawyer Turitea Bolstad said when the map White asked for was provided to him, he was not able to read it properly so requested another version.

Council staff found another map, but Bolstad said it turned out to the wrong one.

‘‘From there things went pear-shaped and he was asked to leave,’’ she said.

Bolstad said White was sorry for his actions.

Community magistrate Kathy Wilson said a victim impact statement had been prepared by the council.

It stated that White was ‘‘well known’’ to staff but they did not appreciate the way he had conducted himself on this occasion.

Wilson told the defendant that hurling abuse was not going to win him any friends or help.

‘‘You’re just making things more and more difficult for yourself,’’ she said.

White was convicted of the charge and placed on a 12 month good behaviour bond.