Arrest follows agitated driver’s 57km trail of trouble

After smashing windows at his former flat, an agitated young man was seen driving dangerously during a 57km trip that ended in his arrest.

In the space of a few hours on August 21, Frank Faaseu committed three crimes, the first of which happened at the home of his former flatmate on Ketemarae Rd in Hāwera. Faaseu had been drinking before heading to the address to pay overdue rent, the police summary of facts said.

After arriving at the address, he left to get some food. When he returned about 4.15pm, the victim would not open the door due to the 21-year-old’s behaviour. Faaseu left the property but drove back to the house about 7pm, telling the victim he had left his vape there.

When the victim told him to leave, Faaseu got angry and used an axe handle to smash three windows. He drove away, bound for New Plymouth.

Faaseu was seen tailgating another vehicle on State Highway 3 near Stratford about 7.45pm. He was flicking his headlights off and on and swerving his car side to side in the lane. In Inglewood, Faaseu was seen closely following a truck and trailer unit, which he later passed while driving in a 50kph zone. Shortly afterwards, he lost control of his car, hit a road sign and veered into a ditch.

Faaseu managed to get his car out before driving towards Egmont Village – about 57km from Hāwera – where police officers caught up with him. He was breath tested and returned a result of 482 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 250mcg.

In the New Plymouth District Court yesterday, Faaseu pleaded guilty to charges of wilful damage, drink-driving and driving in a dangerous manner.

Community magistrate Lesley Jensen referred the case to restorative justice, ahead of a November 9 sentencing date.