Dunedin District Court

THE defendant had a growing criminal history, Judge Michael Turner noted, telling a 21yearold Dunedin man ‘‘it seems you’re on a oneway and direct path to prison if you keep offending’’.

Jivan Wayne Kingi HalfordFeron, was before the Dunedin District Court yesterday convicted of unlawfully taking a $2900 Toyota Corolla, driving while disqualified and dangerously, and failing to stop for a police vehicle with its red and blue flashing lights and siren activated, at Christchurch, in January; breaching postdetention conditions and community work (both by failing to report to probation), also in January; and failing to attend court, on February 20.

The fact summary for the unlawful taking and driving offending said the Toyota was parked in St John St, Christchurch. Some time between 11am on January 21 and 1.30am on January 22, HalfordFeron gained entry to the vehicle, forced the ignition and drove off.

Police saw him driving the vehicle in Parklands, about 1.35am.

Followed by the police car, HalfordFeron immediately turned on to New Brighton Rd and accelerated.

He did not stop for the police car’s coloured flashing lights and siren, and in Breezes Rd his speed reached about 120kmh in a 50kmh zone.

The pursuit was abandoned for safety reasons.

Police later found the Toyota crashed and abandoned on the corner of Butterfield Ave and Hay St.

A police dog tracked HalfordFeron from the Toyota, through the Bromley cemetery, to Butterfield Ave where he was arrested.

HalfordFeron said a friend had asked him to drive his car.

Judge Turner told HalfordFeron ‘‘you said you needed a vehicle to take you where you were going. To me that suggests a sense of entitlement’’.

Public defender Sophia Thorburn said HalfordFeron now had employment on an ‘‘on call’’ basis.

The judge said there was little in mitigation. But he was prepared to recognise HalfordFeron had the sup port of his mother.

For unlawful taking, HalfordFeron was sentenced to six months’ home detention (with six months postdetention conditions) and ordered to pay $400 reparation (at $15 a week).

The other offences, apart from failing to stop, brought shorter concurrent terms of home detention.

For disqualified driving there was also a one year and one month disqualification, and for dangerous driving six months’ disqualification (concurrent).

The penalty for failing to stop was a sixmonth driving ban (to begin on August 6 next year when the one year and one month disqualification ends).

Other convictions

Ryan James Burke (24), forest worker, of Mosgiel, drinkdriving, 664mcg, Main South Rd, Fairfield, about 3.30am, March 23, three months’ community detention (curfewed 7pm Fridays to 5am Mondays), nine months’ supervision, disqualified six months. Burke’s two previous drinkdrive convictions were in 2012 (exceeding adult limit, bloodalcohol level being 189mg) and 2013 (exceeding youth limit, breathalcohol level being 182mcg).

Damian Moses St John (21), of Dunedin, disqualified driving (in explanation said he received phone call saying someone trying to break into his vehicle so he was dropped off and taking it to a friend’s house), disqualified six months from when current ban ends. Counsel Deborah Henderson said the defendant found one of the vehicle’s windows had been popped out.

Chantelle Parry (23), job seeker, of Dunedin, driving while driver licence suspended (stopped for routine check; no driving fault, judge noted), Bradshaw St, about 1.30pm, May 17, 40 hours’ community work, disqualified six months.

Tanie MitaPiru Edwards (22), of Mosgiel, burglary (victim thenflatmate, Edwards got into victim’s room through insecure window, searched wardrobe, found victim’s lockbox, forced it open with knife, removed $135), some time between December 21 and 27, two months’ home detention (with six months’ postdetention conditions), 100 hours’ community work, $135 reparation (in full, by August 10). Counsel Nathan Laws said Edwards had written letter of apology, willing to pay reparation.

Toni Caroline Cochrane (23), hairdresser, of Waihola, Crimes Act assault (victim former motherinlaw; in Princes St, Cochrane punched window panes of victim’s shop door; victim opened doors, asked what she was doing; Cochrane punched victim in nose causing her to stumble backwards about four steps; Cochrane walked away; independent witness called police), about 12.50pm, May 7, 80 hours’ community work, nine months’ supervision (from September 7 when current sentence ends). Counsel Jim Takas said a history of conflict between the two women.

Billy Steven Cooper (27), freezing worker, of Dunedin, breaching prison release condition (failed to report to probation), June 1320, sentence deferred 12 months.

Tyler Mason Collins (20), engineer, of Dunedin, breaching community work (failed to report to probation), May 19, fined $600, court costs $130.

Tylor Robert Harris (18), of Dunedin, breach of community work (sentenced to 200 hours in August and 200 further hours in December, Harris failed to obey directions given by a probation officer while doing community work, the defendant sat down and when told to get up said he was tired, later used his cellphone, when asked to stop he told the supervisor to “f*** off”; Probation said Harris had completed 214 hours of the sentence), June 1, convicted and discharged.

Lina Chantelle Pati (24), cleaner, of Dunedin, intentional damage (walking down George St at 12.05am, had a verbal altercation with occupants of a car, when the car stopped at intersection with St Andrew St hit the windscreen with a wine bottle and smashed it, continued walking towards Octagon before police caught up with her), June 17, 40 hours’ community work, $711 reparation.