French pair to serve sentences after revenge attack

A French couple who took revenge against a drug dealer who ripped them off will go home only after serving their sentences.

Chef Antoine Andrew Dany Therle, 30, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday afternoon after pleading guilty to attempted kidnapping and assault with intent to injure.

Judge Michael Crosbie called the incident “unusual and extremely violent” and sentenced him to seven months’ home detention.

Therle’s girlfriend Lisa Charlotte Simone Elise Peronnet, 30, admitted a charge of assault and got 100 hours community work.

They would serve their sentences before leaving the country, Immigration New Zealand confirmed.

The pair — who now live in Wanaka — first came into contact with 18-year-old Tobias Waring through a Facebook page offering cannabis to French travellers in New Zealand.

They agreed on a price of $400 for the drugs but after the cash was handed over, Waring failed to deliver the goods. When the teen popped up online with a new profile, Therle orchestrated another meeting in a bid to get their cash back.

Waring was sitting on a park bench when the aggrieved Frenchman arrived. Therle stood over him in a threatening manner and put him in a “headlock”. Therle hauled him several metres along Duke St towards his van where Peronnet was waiting.

Waring managed to break free as Peronnet grabbed at him.

Therle said it was his plan to take Waring to an ATM to recoup his $400.

Therle was supported by a raft of character references from overseas, which described him as being “hardworking, fun-loving, empathetic, otherwise calm and respectful”.