Judge warns offender jail’s next

A man who brandished a knife while making threats was left under no illusions what would happen if he did it again, when he appeared in court.

Judge Peter Rollo told Joshua Charles Decke, 27, he would be off to jail if he was caught with a knife or weapon in public.

The 27-year-old unemployed Waitara resident appeared before Rollo in the New Plymouth District Court yesterday charged with possession of an offensive weapon and wilful damage.

On September 19 about 12.15pm Decke was on Waitara’s Queen St with his dog when several members of the public heard him yell at, and then hit, the animal with a rope he was using as a leash, the police summary of facts stated.

‘‘A member of the public working across the road yelled at the defendant to get him to stop treating the dog in such a manner and to leave.’’

Decke yelled back he could discipline his dog how he liked before challenging the man with the words ‘‘you want a go?’’ several times.

He then crossed the road and continued to verbally try and provoke the man to fight before returning to the other side.

Moments later a witness saw Decke recross the road carrying a flick knife, with a 100mm blade, and again taunting the man with ‘‘Come on. Let’s go.’’

Decke jumped a temporary barrier to get closer to the man but walked off when he heard the police had been called.

He was arrested a short time later and told the police he got the knife out because the other guy had threatened him.

Rollo said the only reason to carry a knife was for the ‘‘unlawful purpose of stabbing people’’.

‘‘Why you would be carrying one, I can’t imagine.’’

On March 27, 2018, Decke was at East Beach Waitara when armed police executed a search warrant for synthetic cannabis.

He repeatedly ignored officers’ commands to approach them but was finally arrested and taken to New Plymouth police station.

After being put into a secure cell Decke began punching a thick safety glass window, shattering it.

He told police he did it because he was angry.

Rollo noted Decke had appeared in court about 15 months ago for possession of a knife and put a final warning on his file so if he appeared in the future he would be sent to prison.

He sentenced Decke to a total of 140 hours’ community work, ordered him to pay $460.45 for the smashed window at $25 per week and directed the knife be destroyed.