Racist remarks and police assault by man

A man with alcohol issues made racist remarks against Ma¯ ori and assaulted a police officer after being arrested, a court has heard.

Rajat Sharma appeared before Judge Chris Sygrove in the New Plymouth District Court where he was sentenced on one charge of threatening behaviour and one of assaulting a police officer.

The incident occurred on March

31, about 10.43pm when the 21-yearold was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by police for a routine traffic check at Molesworth St, New Plymouth. According to the summary of facts, when the constable approached the driver’s side of the car Sharma asked: ‘‘why did you f ****** stop me you faggot’’ and then threatened to ‘‘smash’’ him.

When a second officer approached the vehicle Sharma greeted him with: ‘‘pig, f*** you pig’’. He continued spewing threats, including ‘‘I am going to take you out, I am going to punch you’’ and then aggressively swung open his door. He was arrested for his actions and taken to the station for processing where he was uncooperative and proceeded to make derogatory remarks to Ma¯ ori.

His behaviour landed him in a police cell and while detained he spat in the face of an officer.

At the time, he would not comment on the incident, only wanting to know ‘‘why he was being arrested instead of a Ma¯ ori’’.

Defence lawyer Turitea Bolstad told Thursday’s hearing her client had a problem with alcohol.

‘‘What’s happening with the alcohol is he’s making silly statements, as he has, he’s acting out of character,’’ she said.

Bolstad suggested a sentence of supervision arguing that would ‘‘give him that added support that he clearly needs’’.

Sharma had been attending alcohol and drug services, she said.

Sygrove told the defendant his behaviour was disgraceful.

‘‘It’s not what we expect of a New Zealand citizen. If you continue to consume alcohol and abuse police officers there’s only one place you’ll end up and instead of being held in custody by the process you’ll be held in custody for several months.’’

Sygrove sentenced Sharma to six months supervision and ordered he pay $400 emotional harm reparation to the police officer.