Dunedin District Court

HE had been through the defendant’s history ‘‘going right back to 1987’’ and counted 26 convictions for drivingrelated offending at various levels, Judge Kevin Phillips said sentencing a 47yearold Dunedin man.

Tony James Frood was before the Dunedin District Court yesterday on convictions for dangerous driving and careless driving.

He had admitted driving on State Highway 1 in a manner that might have been dangerous to the public, in February this year; and driving carelessly in Easther Cres, in August last year.

The dangerous driving summary said Frood was heading north on State Highway 1 from Balclutha about 7am on February 24.

In about a 20minute period, several reports were made by people concerned about the way he was driving.

He was seen, a number of times, swerving on to the grass verge and then crossing the centre line.

At one point he narrowly avoided colliding with an oncoming log truck.

And shortly before he was stopped, a southbound motorist narrowly avoided a headon collision with him.

When stopped, he said he had just finished work and was tired and travelling home.

He showed no signs of alcohol or drug use.

At sentencing, the judge noted Frood now said he had injured his eye at work and had no other way of getting home.

The careless driving charge, from an incident on August 26, was from Frood crashing into a parked vehicle and leaving without notifying the owner of the damage.

The vehicle was struck so hard it was written off, Judge Phillips said.

Public defender Andrew More said Frood was trying to deal with his issues and seeing a counsellor at least fortnightly.

For dangerous driving, Frood was sentenced to three months’ community detention (curfewed 7pm7am daily) and 100 hours’ community work, and disqualified from driving for 14 months.

Careless driving resulted in six months’ disqualification (concurrent) and an order to pay reparation amounting to $3000.

Other convictions

Breeze Thelma Parsons (31), attendant, of Dunedin, drinkdriving (third such conviction in six years; Parsons had been drinking in town with friends, had consumed seven RTDs, was heading home to Port Chalmers when police saw her swerving in her lane; defence counsel Sophia Thorburn said the mother of three was ‘‘very embarrassed’’ to be in court again and was now determined to stay dry; Judge Phillips said he would give her a ‘‘final opportunity’’ but if she came to court again on a similar charge, she would go to jail), 515mcg, 12.25am, March 16, Sir John Thorn Dr, four months’ community detention, nine months’ supervision, 120 hours’ community work, 13 months’ disqualification.

Lyndon Daryl Ralston (37), unemployed, of Dunedin, driving while disqualified (eighth such conviction; Ralston was stopped by police, admitted he should not be driving), 4pm, April 16, Milton Highway; breaching community work (defendant was sentenced in the Invercargill District Court in December to 120 hours’ community work for driving while disqualified, failed to show up on at least four occasions, Probation staff sent warning letters and tried to call and text Ralston; defence counsel Sophia Thorburn said her client had recently moved to Dunedin and had struggled to settle, Judge Phillips said the defendant showed no remorse and was considered at high risk of reoffending), April 19; nine months’ imprisonment, 13 months’ disqualification (driving ban will end on January 15, 2019).

Warwick Robert Lawrence (65), of Dunedin, breaching release conditions (released from Otago Corrections Facility on May 19, 2016, release conditions imposed included not to consume alcohol, police were called to Lawrence’s caravan after neighbour heard arguing, found him ‘‘extremely intoxicated’’; defence counsel Sophia Thorburn said her client had lost his 90yearold father to illness and was drinking to ‘‘numb the grief’’), April 5, six months’ deferred sentence.

Kyle Andrew Allum (28), unemployed, of Dunedin, breaching a protection order (at 5am Allum texted the protected person, six hours later the victim replied telling him it was not acceptable, his texts became abusive; defence counsel Andrew More said his client was a good father and the victim wanted him to continue coparenting the child they had together), February 28, two months’ community detention, 100 hours’ community work, 12 months’ supervision.

Christopher Bryan Aim (41), driver, of Mosgiel, Crimes Act male assaults female assault on woman known to him, possessing offensive weapon (knife) in circumstances showing intent to commit offence involving threat of violence, and resisting police (judge said matters got out of control when Aim unintentionally awoken from sleep; victim tried to get him out of house; Aim grabbed her around throat and held her by throat about five seconds; teenager present hysterical by then; Aim got longhandled knife from kitchen, raised it above head demanding property be returned; aggressive behaviour continued when police arrived; became full of apology when communication established); about midnight, March 30, overall sentence 260 hours’ community work (200 for assault, 100 concurrent on knife charge, 60 cumulative on 200 for resisting), nine months’ supervision (each charge, concurrent), order for destruction of knife. Counsel Cate Andersen said Aim ‘‘exceedingly remorseful’’; finding counselling with psychotherapist ‘‘significant help’’. Judge noted Aim had no previous convictions for violence.

Cory William Aitken (34), of Dunedin, Crimes Act assault (Aitken and 57yearold man known to him at Dunedin central communal special needs place; victim put hand on Aitken and asked him to move; Aitken took exception, immediately punched victim once on side of head; as staff approached, grabbed victim’s jersey and swung, his fist connecting with victim’s left temple; then grabbed victim’s hair above his forehead and pushed his head down; victim suffered sore nose, did not need medical treatment), about 12.20pm, April 26, nine months’ supervision, $300 emotional harm reparation. Counsel Ms Andersen said Aitken had mental health issues, had stopped taking medication, behaviour on the day ‘‘not logical’’.

Mitchell Laird Watson (22), of Dunedin, assault (at a family gathering, Watson put his arms around the victim’s shoulders from behind, with his arms around her neck he moved her out of the way as he was leaving the party, pushed her four or five times; defence counsel Ms Thorburn said her client was uncomfortable in that environment because of the freeflowing alcohol and his previous experiences, the relationship between the pair was now over), February 11, six months’ supervision, 60 hours’ community work.