Dunedin District Court

THE defendant had been in custody for 27 days and nights. She had not been in custody before ‘‘and has been counting them off’’, counsel Chris Lynch said when a 22yearold Dunedin woman appeared for sentence.

Sarah Blair Chirnside was before the Dunedin District Court yesterday convicted of driving with a breathalcohol level of 948mcg in Dalgety St, and an associated charge of resisting a constable, on April 11; obstructing and resisting police, and intentionally damaging a tearresistant blanket at the police station, on June 14; and resisting a constable on August 27.

Reviewing the facts, Judge John Macdonald said Chirnside had certainly made life difficult for herself.

Parked outside her grandmother’s house about 2.50am on April 11, she was found slumped on the driver’s seat of her vehicle. Being dealt with by police, she strongly resisted being handcuffed and her attitude was completely uncooperative.

Her behaviour on June 14 was ‘‘again uncooperative’’ and ‘‘again quite unnecessary’’.

On August 27 she again resisted police.

Imposing penalty, the judge described Chirnside’s list as ‘‘modest . . . only one page long’’.

Having read a letter from her, and hearing from Ms Lynch, he would approach sentencing on the basis time in custody had had some impact on her, he said.

Chirnside was sentenced to 12 months’ intensive supervision (with special conditions) and 200 hours’ community work, and ordered to pay $127 reparation (intentional damage).

On the drinkdrive offence (her third such conviction, the others being in 2011 and 2015), she was also disqualified from driving for 15 months (with zero alcohol licence provisions to follow).

Other convictions

Courtney Benita Ribbon (20), student, drinkdriving, 782mcg (stopped by police for roadside breathalcohol test), Ruataniwha Rd, Wairoa, about 12.30am, August 30, fined $700, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

Roscheneil Ian Torres Garcia (31), employed, of Dunedin, drinkdriving, 124mg, Kaikorai Valley Rd, about 1.10am, July 30, fined $600, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

Donna Marie Hunt (56), drinkdriving, 531mcg (told police removing herself from an argument with her partner before it got out of hand), car park off Akersten St, Port Nelson, about 9pm, July 28, fined $350, court costs $130, disquali fied six months. Counsel Louise Garthwaite said Hunt drove only 50100m within the car park; had not previously appeared before the court.

Callum Brian Gerard Robinson (18), apprentice painter, of Mosgiel, drinkdriving aged under 20, 250mcg (moved car about 200m to where would not get parking ticket), North Rd, about 10.45pm, August 12, fined $250, court costs $130, disqualified three months.

Cody Lee Andersen (21), casual worker, of Dunedin, driving while suspended (after being suspended for three months on August 19, Andersen was stopped by police, admitted being banned, said he was driving home after visiting his mother in hospital; defence counsel Rhona Daysh said he had $5000 in fines outstanding), August 22, fined $250, court costs $130, six months’ disqualification (to start on November 19).

Setu TupuSetu (18), of Dunedin, breaching community detention (left curfew address during curfew period without approval), August 12, sentence deferred six months.

Jonathan Lee Bradford (44), of Dunedin, Crimes Act male assaults female offence against then partner, about 5.45pm, July 29, fined $400, court costs $130, emotional harm reparation $500, protection order in favour of victim. Counsel David More said Bradford very remorseful, devastated by breakup of relationship, was willing to participate in restorative justice. Judge noted no physical injury, relationship of about two years ended; also noted restorative justice did not go ahead as victim wanted facetoface meeting with defendant but was now living in North Auckland; said Bradford had past convictions for violence, but not against the victim.

William Frank Stephenson (64), cleaner, of Dunedin, Crimes Act male assaults female offence against partner (Stephenson began drinking bourbon at home, about 11.30am; extremely intoxicated by late afternoon; argument with partner turned physical, Stephenson punched her twice on right side of face, tried to punch her again but missed), July 31, nine months’ supervision (one previous male assaults female conviction — in 2004, judge noted).

Jade Margaret Cassidy (25), waitress/single parent, of Dunedin, cultivating cannabis (police found eight cannabis plants in small outhouse at her address; Cassidy arrived, showed them under house to cellar where 34 plants in grow room; Cassidy said started growing the plants about a month before, it was an experiment, wasn’t expecting the plants to grow so well, things got a bit out of hand), August 25, 120 hours’ community work (cumulative on current term), six months’ supervision (special condition to undergo alcohol and drug counselling). Judge noted police acknowledged no suggestion the cultivation for any commercial reason.

Charlene Amelia Hunt (28), unemployed, of Dunedin, obtaining by deception (advertised a Samsung cellphone on TradeMe, victim in Dargaville won the auction and transferred $752 to Hunt’s account, when the victim did not receive the phone she messaged the defendant on Facebook, Hunt made a $75 refund but said she thought the phone had been sent; Judge John Macdonald said Hunt had three pages of convictions, some of which were for similar offending, defence counsel Sophia Thorburn said her client was pregnant and would not be back before the court), August 23, 2016, 150 hours’ community work, reparation $677.

Craig William Alan Blackler (44), dairy farm manager, of Clutha district, possessing offensive weapon (vehicle shock absorber spring) and intentional damage (judge said some kind of employment dispute, woman employed on dairy farm believed her job being advertised on Facebook; about 12.30pm, went to the property to retrieve some belongings from house where she had been living, Blackler upset, confrontation, entered property, seen holding suspension spring unit from shock absorber, smashed television screen with the spring; victim fearful for herself and associates with her during incident), August 29 last year, fined $500, court costs $130, $750 emotional harm reparation — as offered by Blackler (offensive weapon charge), fined $250, court costs $130, reparation $750 (intentional damage). Judge accepted offending out of character for Blackler and at time when he was under stress, told him ‘‘not an excuse for what you did, but helps explain it’’; said Blackler’s significant voluntary work in community through Lions commendable.

Maresha Wrathall (37), of Dunedin, stealing vehicle registration plates valued at $60 (took registration plates off vehicle in Gordon Rd, fixed them to her vehicle) between April 3 and 10; stealing $88.15 petrol (went with associate to Z Energy, Andersons Bay, put petrol in car, left without paying), April 10; steal ing $134.40 diesel, BP Connect, Cumberland St, August 1, overall sentence 160 hours’ community work, six months’ supervision, disqualified three months (fuel thefts, because vehicle used in offending), reparation $60 and $88.15. Court told associate with Wrathall on August 1 also charged, sentenced earlier and ordered to pay reparation. Judge said Wrathall had eightpage list of convictions, noted she had not offended since July 2014.

Chase Ashley Henderson (22), parttime worker, of Dunedin, stealing $400 car (in April, victim parked car in St Heliers Court, short distance from where he was living; in June, victim found car had been stolen; on August 10, Henderson spoken to about the car, admitted taking vehicle, changing ownership and selling to car wrecker, said understood it had been abandoned and was anyone’s to sell), 140 hours’ community work, reparation $400. Public defender Andrew Dawson said Henderson had no previous convictions for dishonesty; car had been left a couple of months, Henderson made some inquiries about it ‘‘but not enough’’. Judge Macdonald accepted Henderson ‘‘saw this as an opportunity to gain some cash’’.