Man out of control during incidents, judge says

A YOUNG Arrowtown man was ‘‘out of control’’ during two incidents in the township in four days, a judge says.

Judge Mark Callaghan told Ben James LockleyEbsworth (18), scaffolder, he was of an age when people who drank and drove ‘‘either end up dead or injured’’.

The defendant was driving drunk in the township on November 16 last year when he hit the back of a parked car in Hood Cres, causing substantial damage.

While being processed at the Queenstown police station, he walked out an unlocked door, but was caught soon afterwards.

He was charged with dangerous driving, drinkdriving and escaping from custody.

Four days later, while on bail, he smashed his TV after becoming frustrated at being unable to find money in his room.

He abused his father as he left the house, and after his father went out to remonstrate with him, the pair fought in a park.

LockleyEbsworth then went to a public toilet building near the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement and punched a mirror, breaking the mirror and his hand. He then smashed the side window of a parked campervan with his head.

After police were called, he was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries.

Police charged him with fighting in a public place and intentional damage.

Judge Callaghan convicted the defendant on all the charges. For escaping custody, he was sentenced to three months’ community detention; for intentional damage, ordered to pay reparation of $200 for the campervan window and $180 for the toilet mirror; for fighting, convicted and discharged.

For the dangerous driving and drinkdriving charges, he was sentenced to 80 hours’ community work, six months’ supervision with intervention to address his alcohol issues, disqualified from driving for eight months, and ordered to pay reparation of $150 for towage.

A BRITISH man living in Queenstown on a work visa has been sentenced to community detention and supervision for importing and supplying ecstasy.

Appearing before Judge Mark Callaghan in the Queenstown District Court yesterday, Andrew John Harvey (30), sales telephonist, admitted supplying Class Bcontrolled MDMA on December 16 last year, and being a party to importing MDMA between November 1 and December 18.

While carrying out a search warrant at his home for an unrelated matter, police found 7.1g of the drug inside a headphone case in the defendant’s bedroom.

He told police it had been sent by a friend in the United Kingdom, and admitted selling one gram to a friend for $350.

Harvey’s counsel, Louise Denton, said he had undergone counselling for his drug use, and had already carried out 70 hours’ community work.

Judge Callaghan said it appeared Harvey had imported the drug for his own use, but importing any drug was a serious matter.

He sentenced him to six weeks’ community detention, and six months’ supervision to allow intervention for his drug issues.

He also made an order for seizure of $500 found in the defendant’s bedroom, and for destruction of the drug.