Violence may hurt career
A young rugby player seeking a contract in France has found that he needs to keep his emotions in check, after a series of outbursts landed him in court.
Christchurch District Court Judge David Saunders imposed community work and a rapidly mounting reparations order on 21-year-old Jesse James Montagu, who had admitted assault and intentional damage charges.
Defence counsel Jessica Bibby said Montagu had qualified as a personal trainer, and had completed a one-year rugby contract in Sydney, and a further contract in Timaru. Since then, he had moved to Christchurch but had lost his job after his arrest.
He now had potential contracts to play in France, she said.
The incidents began last December, with Montagu smashing a woman’s window. He will have to pay $175 for that damage.
The second incident was the subject of a defended hearing on Thursday, in which Montagu was convicted of assaulting ‘‘an old gentleman’’ in a road-rage incident on March 7, and assaulting the man’s son by kicking him. The judge ordered a $500 emotional harm reparations payment.
About 12.15pm on April 6, Montagu was at the Belfast Supa Centre when he took exception to a woman pulling into a car park. He started yelling and swearing at her, and spat at the window of her car.
When the woman walked to Montagu’s car and took a photograph of the registration plate, he slapped her iPhone out of her hand. He then ran off but returned to kick the driver’s side wing mirror off.
He admitted intentional damage of the iPhone and wing mirror, and assaulting the woman.
Bibby said Montagu was apologetic for the series of incidents. ‘‘He knows he has over-reacted.’’
Judge Saunders said it appeared Montagu was a ‘‘young man who has not really been in control of his emotions when under stress’’.
The judge ordered Montagu to pay $1393 for the phone damage , and $607 to an insurance company for the car damage. He ordered 160 hours of community work.
He told Montagu: ‘‘If you wish to leave the country to take up a contract elsewhere, I suggest you get the community work done ... Otherwise, you might be embarrassed at the border.’’