Dunedin District Court
‘‘THIS is precisely the kind of offending community detention is designed to address,’’ Judge Michael Crosbie said yesterday sentencing a Dunedin man who, twice in five days, drove so that his vehicle had a sustained loss of traction.
‘‘You say you weren’t showing off. But that’s utter nonsense. How could either instance be anything but showing off?’’ the judge asked.
Daniel Thomas Burt (27), car painter, was before the Dunedin District Court convicted two charges of operating a vehicle so that it had a sustained loss of traction.
He had pleaded guilty.
The police summary said Burt dropped off two associates in Aotea St, about 6.20pm on January 23.
Leaving the address in his Nissan Skyline soon after, he accelerated heavily causing the rear wheels to spin and a substantial amount of smoke to engulf the area.
He drove up the street, continuously spinning the wheels, and leaving a tyre friction mark estimated to be at least 60m long.
Driving his Skyline in Cranley St about 8pm five days later, Burt approached the intersection with Marlow St then sped off along Cranley St and drove around the block. His vehicle, with a big bore exhaust, made an extremely loud noise.
Burt repeated the driving numerous times before slowing at the same intersection then accelerating hard, spinning the rear wheels in an 180degree power turn and creating smoke.
Spoken to, he admitted doing a sustained skid in Aotea St saying in explanation his foot slipped off the clutch. And he denied any sustained loss of traction in Cranley St or doing any skid there.
The judge sentenced him to two months’ community detention (curfewed 7pm6am daily), 60 hours’ community work, and disqualified him from driving for one year.
Breached protection order
Jamie Paul Noon (39), received an eightmonth jail term, a term which made him effectively due for release.
He had admitted breaching a protection order by physically abusing the protected person, and a Summary Offences Act assault on the person, on February 20.
Affected by alcohol, and upset and agitated, while visiting the victim about 8.30pm, Noon followed her into her bedroom when she was trying to put distance between them.
Blocking her off so she could not get past him and leave the room, Noon grabbed her by the wrists and held her tightly using enough force to punch her hands into his head.
The victim had no lasting physical injury but was very frightened and upset.
Asking for a sentence which would make Noon due for release ‘‘more or less about now’’, counsel John Westgate said he had been in custody almost four months, the equivalent of an eightmonth sentence.
Noon had been having help from psychologist while in prison ‘‘and intends to keep that going on release’’. Noon also had no wish to reconcile with the victim, Mr Westgate said.
Judge Crosbie noted Noon said in a letter to the court he took full responsibility and felt his offending was a disgrace he had to live with.
Noon had not previously been convicted of breaching a protection order. But he was convicted of assault in 2013, the judge said.
Noon was sentenced to eight months’ jail, with six months’ release conditions which include further oneonone psychological counselling, if assessed as suitable.
Other convictions
Derek John Taylor (46), secondhand dealer, of Dunedin, drinkdriving, (sixth such conviction), 134mg, and careless driving (Taylor approached a corner, veered into a driveway which turned into a steep bank, caused van to roll on to its right side, slide along the road coming to a rest blocking both lanes; Judge Crosbie noted the defendant’s last drinkdriving conviction was 19 years ago, Taylor said he recalled little of the crash because ‘‘it happened so fast’’), Portobello Rd, 9.30pm, December 26, four months’ home detention, 18 months’ disqualification.
Graeme John Devlin (56), employed, of Brighton, drinkdriving, 762mcg, Brighton Rd, about 7.10pm, May 8, 150 hours’ community work, six months’ supervision (to undergo alcoholdrug assessment and any followup), court costs $130, disqualified one year and one day. Devlin had two previous drinkdrive convictions — in 1981 and 2004, judge noted.
Isaac Charles Boyes (25), employed, of Dunedin, drinkdriving (756mcg), and careless driving, Drivers Rd, about 3am, May 21, overall sentence $750 fine, court costs $130, disqualified nine months. Boyes had no previous convictions, court heard.
Ruea Deryck Joseph Morgan (33), labourer, of Dunedin, drinkdriving, 465mcg, Taieri Rd, about 11.40pm, May 12, 150 hours’ community work, disqualified nine months. One previous drinkdrive conviction, in 2014, judge said.
Jordyn Wiremu Kepa (24), student, of Dunedin, driving while suspended (Kepa was suspended for three months in March for excess demerit points, stopped by police and vehicle impounded for 28 days; defence counsel Ann Leonard handed up letter from Otago Polytech saying the defendant was doing ‘‘very well’’ on his automotive engineering course), Castle St, 4pm, April 4, six months’ disqualification (starting June 24), court costs $130.
Christopher Cody Mason (24), of Dunedin, breaching release condition (in failing to report to probation), January 24; and disqualified driving (Maclaggan St), about 6.30pm, February 5, overall sentence 100 hours’ community work, nine months’ supervision, disqualified six months. Mason previously convicted of breaching sentences, judge said.
Paddy Albert Donnelly (47), of Dunedin, breach of protection order, assault (Donnelly was drinking at the home of the protected woman and another man, an argument sparked up, he swore at protected person, she left the room, the man tried to calm the defendant down, Donnelly pulled him to the ground and they wrestled), January 3, nine months’ supervision, 200 hours’ community work.
Jonathan Martin Puri Muncaster (43), of Milton, breach of supervision (Muncaster was sentenced to nine months’ supervision in November on charges of wilful damage, possessing a weapon, threatening behaviour and unlawfully in an enclosed yard, ordered to attend antiviolence and substanceabuse counselling, failed to attend alcohol and drug programmes despite reminders, said his employment was more important and that counselling was ‘‘a waste of time’’), February 22, previous sentence cancelled, six months’ supervision imposed.
Zachariah Caleb Jedediah Williams (24), student, of Dunedin, assaulting a female (court heard the relationship between Williams and the victim was now over, Judge Crosbie said the assault was serious but Williams had no previous convictions for violence, defence counsel Steve Turner said his client had good prospects and was studying for a bachelor of science degree), four months’ community detention, 120 hours’ community work, nine months’ supervision.
Name suppressed (29), mother, of Dunedin, assaulted a child (at home with partner during family gathering, 5yearold daughter was misbehaving and placed in ‘‘timeout’’ in a quiet area, the victim screamed, defendant kicked her in the right side of torso; Judge Crosbie suppressed the defendant’s name noting the lower level of the offence), six months’ supervision.
Danielle Isabella Randell (32), single mother, of Waikouaiti, theft ($209 of groceries from New World Dunedin), January 8; theft ($543 of groceries from New World Palmerston North), December 30; theft ($45 bottle of whisky from Cableways Tavern), December 2; trespass (Pak’N Save Hillside Rd), May 19; four months’ community detention ($2891 in fines remitted), $254 reparation.
Hemi George Koroheke (39), of Dunedin, two charges of unlawfully in an enclosed yard, theft, possession of cannabis (Koroheke ripped wing mirror off Toyota and put it in his pocket, was seen going on to two properties on County Rd, when police arrested him they found 24g of cannabis in his pocket; Koroheke told the court he was drunk at the time), 180 hours’ community work, six months’ supervision, $100 reparation.
Haimona Rangi Wharerimu (22), of Dunedin, wilful damage (Wharerimu was on Hyde St at 4.40am, a large group of students and nonstudents were involved in ‘‘general disorder’’, defendant pulled over a rubbish bin, kicked the right rear door panel of a Toyota causing a large dint, Wharerimu kicked another vehicle but fell over before he could do any damage, his offending was captured on CCTV; defendant told police he had been drinking and was angry after an argument with his girlfriend), January 29, one month’s community detention, $690 reparation.