Dunedin District Court

TOLD that 10 days in custody had had a salutary effect on a young man, Judge Michael Crosbie commented ‘‘but not salutary enough for him to do one hour of community work’’.

Reilly Liam Greaves (20), builder, was for sentence in the Dunedin District Court yesterday convicted of driving charges and two breaches of community work.

In response to a question from the judge, court probation officer Jeremy Burdett said Greaves last reported for community work on October 22 last year and had done only 36 and ahalf of the 400 hours to which he had been sentenced. Since being back on bail, he had completed no further hours.

‘‘That’s as bad a response as I’ve seen for a while, and I’ve seen a lot,’’ the judge said, describing Greave’s approach to community work as ‘‘lousy’’.

Greaves had admitted driving recklessly, while disqualified, and failing to stop for police, on August 18 this year; and, also this year, breaching community work in failing to report to probation on July 15 and failing to complete the required number of hours within the period prescribed on March 24.

The driving summary said Greaves was driving in Middleton Rd when police signalled him to stop, about 1am.

The road was damp from previous rain.

Greaves failed to stop and accelerated rapidly, reaching speeds of about 80kmh in the 50kmh zone.

Driving down Blackhead Rd, he fishtailed on a moderate bend and crossed the centre line before recovering and continuing to evade police.

He was stopped in Green Island and subsequently arrested.

After pleading guilty to the charges on October 20, Greaves was remanded in custody for 10 days.

Counsel Marie TaylorCyphers said ‘‘the reality of prison has hit him hard and has had a salutary effect’’.

Judge Crosbie noted Greaves had previous driving convictions. And ‘‘completely unimpressed’’ he had done ‘‘nothing towards his community work . . . nothing’’ since pleading guilty, the judge said the message was not getting through on any level.

On the driving charges, Greaves was given an overall sentence of two months’ jail (with six months’ release conditions) and disqualified from driving for one year and one day.

Dealing with the community work breaches by conviction and discharge, the judge said the outstanding hours would remain.

‘‘You will complete them and if you breach you will be back before me and will go to prison,’’ he told Greaves. ‘‘The community work is not going to go away.’’

Made donation, discharged

A woman who appeared after earlier admitting a Summary Offences Act assault on another woman was discharged without conviction.

SynaraLee Morris (23), of Dunedin, was charged with committing the offence on April 5.

When she entered her guilty plea she sought a discharge without conviction and was remanded to carry out 50 hours’ voluntary community work.

Yesterday, counsel Steve Turner provided written material from a doctor and said Morris had been unable to do the work for health reasons.

The matter was stood down for her to make a charity donation.

Later, having donated $500 to the Salvation Army, she was granted a discharge.

Judge Crosbie said the assault was at the lower end of the scale for an offence of its type, a conviction would be disproportionate, Morris had no previous convictions and police did not oppose the application.

Other convictions

Mark Alan Blewden (37), of Dunedin, aggravated drinkdriving (sixth such conviction), driving while forbidden (driving BMW, saw police and turned off in the opposite direction, later stopped, admitted not being licensed; defence counsel Cate Andersen said her client was now coming to grips with his addiction and could serve a homedetention sentence with his father, Judge Michael Crosbie said “six times is six times too many”, the safety of the community came first in such a situation), 1152mcg, 11.12am, September 13, Skibo St, nine months’ imprisonment, indefinite disqualification.

A Brittany Irene Shemely (27), beneficiary, of Dunedin, disqualified driving, Riselaw Rd, about 3pm, November 23, fined $400, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

A Luke Alan Tarbotton (28), breaching community work, convicted and discharged. Counsel David McCaskill said Tarbotton was remanded on October 10 to complete about 140 hours’ community work and completed the hours about three weeks ago. Judge Crosbie had told Tarbotton ‘‘even one hour short and you will go to prison’’. Agreeing conviction and discharge was now appropriate, the judge said ‘‘hopefully this has been a wakeup call’’. Tarbotton had made ‘‘a good effort’’ he said, noting Tarbotton had also now obtained a driver’s licence.