Dunedin District Court
SENTENCING a man on an assault charge, Judge Dominic Flatley told him if he did not deal with the underlying causes of his offending he would return.
‘‘You have a lot of hard work to to. You will be given as much support and assistance as is available. The rest is up to you.’’
Jamie Kent Ferguson (25), of Dunedin, was before the Dunedin District Court yesterday convicted of a Crimes Act assault on his then partner, early on June 3; and breaching a prison release condition in failing to report to probation, on June 13.
He had numerous relevant previ ous convictions, the judge noted.
Counsel John Westgate said Ferguson had written a letter of apology. He and the victim were intoxicated on the night. There was no serious injury. Their relationship was now over.
Ferguson had been in custody for the equivalent of about a sixmonth sentence. He had a certificate to show he had not been wasting his time in prison. Further, he had family support and would be leaving Dunedin when he got out of prison, Mr Westgate said.
Ferguson was sentenced to 10 months’ jail (with six months’
release conditions).
Other convictions
A Priscila Luzia Simon (30), of Brazil, drinkdriving (stopped for random breath test, stated she wanted to get home because she was ‘‘a mess’’; defence counsel Rochelle Crossman said the defendant was leaving the country in a matter of hours), 653mcg, 2.20am, October 6, Cumberland St, fined $650, court costs $130, six months’ disqualification.
A Jamie Keith van Toor (25), beneficiary, of Dunedin, unlawfully taking a vehicle (vehicle parked on Kenmure Rd with smashed window, van Toor took vehicle to autoparts dealer to sell it, unable to because he was not registered owner, came back with change of registration documents, dealer said had contacted police; Judge Kevin Phillips said the vehicle had been abandoned for six months and the owner was in India, ‘‘you seized an opportunity to scavenge and make a quid. It wasn’t yours and you lied about it,’’ he said), December 12, 120 hours’ community work, six months’ supervision. Brendon Russell HagueSmith (39), of Dunedin, intentional dam age (defendant’s partner arrived home in Mazda, found victim’s car in her allocated parking spot; defendant’s partner began yelling in attempt to alert car owner; defendant heard, came out of flat and also began yelling, got into Mazda, backed into front of victim’s car causing it to go backwards into concrete wall; front and rear bumper victim’s car damaged), about 10pm, July 9, 200 hours’ community work, $3500 reparation. Judge Flatley said victim parked in wrong car park ‘‘these things happen’’, defendant’s behaviour ‘‘nothing more than bullying . . . will not be tolerated’’.