From main street to mean street
A feud between two Woodville shop owners has escalated to one being charged in court for wilful damage.
Dannevirke woman Gabriele Ella Losch has been in a stoush with John Preston and Peter Thornton, who both own neighbouring shops on Woodville’s main street, over accusations of racism, locks being glued shut and property boundary disputes.
Losch owns The Living Room, while Preston and Thornton are next door at Antique Fabric and Lace, where police were called to on Sunday morning.
There’s been bad blood between the shop owners for more than a year, sparked by a boundary dispute and escalating into derogatory signs and accusations of vandalism.
Losch, 56, pleaded guilty in Palmerston North District Court yesterday to wilful damage of a material rack and ceramic pots that belonged to Preston.
She was offered diversion by police, which she accepted. Diversion offers offenders the chance to avoid a conviction by completing tasks set by police. As part of her bail conditions, Losch must remain living at her Dannevirke property and cannot contact Preston and Thorton.
She said that would be difficult because they were in the store next door and were likely to run into each other, but she was told to avoid contact. Police had proposed Losch not be able to go to Woodville, but that would have meant she couldn’t tend to her shop, or get home to Dannevirke without going
through the town.
She will appear in court again in February. Away from court, Preston said police asked him if he would oppose Losch getting diversion. He said he wouldn’t.
‘‘I believe in forgiveness – I’m a New Zealander – but she doesn’t forgive that easily. But we’ll still go through the restorative justice programme.’’ He said part of taking diversion was the offender having to apologise.
Preston said Losch came to their shop on Sunday, accusing them of gluing her locks shut. Police were called when she began kicking over stock.
‘‘The police officer had to restrain her, because she kept at it even as she was being arrested,’’ he said.
Preston said he didn’t glue her locks, just as he hadn’t done so the previous time she had accused him of it. Preston initially indicated to police he didn’t want to press charges and preferred it to be handled through restorative justice.
He said sitting down at a table with a mediator would be best for resolving the feud.
Losch could not be reached for comment.