Violence may end young player’s rugby dream
A young rugby player seeking a contract in France has found 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 since his arrest.
He now had potential contracts to play rugby in France, she said.
The incidents began in December with Montagu intentionally smashing a car 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. He then kicked the side window.
When the woman walked to Montagu’s car and took a photograph of the registration plate, he ran up and slapped her phone out of her hand.
He then ran off, but returned soon after and kicked the driver’s side wing mirror off.
He admitted intentional damage of the phone and wing mirror, and assaulting the woman.
Bibby said Montagu was apologetic for the series of three incidents. ‘‘He knows he has overreacted big time. He sees that now.’’
Judge Saunders said it appeared Montagu was a ‘‘young man who has not really been in control of his emotions when under stress’’. ‘‘You have lashed out, damaged property, and hurt people.’’
The judge ordered him to pay $1393 for the damage to the phone, and $607 to the insurance company for the damage to the car.
He also ordered him to do a total of 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 and get the reparation under an appropriate arrangement, otherwise you might be embarrassed at the border.’’