Queenstown District Court
A WELSHMAN with an alcohol problem assaulted a taxi driver after refusing to pay the fare.
Jeremy David McNeill (40), of Queenstown, was dropped off at a friend’s house on November 10 after what his lawyer described as a ‘‘big social night out’’.
On arrival, at the St Matthews Pl property about 9pm, McNeill refused to pay and became abusive towards the victim, Kanwarbir Bhullar.
He left the taxi, walked to the end of a driveway where a Subaru was parked, entered the property and then returned.
He then got into the vehicle and reversed it.
When the victim stood in front of the vehicle so it could not get past, McNeill got out — leaving it parked in the middle of the road — and continued arguing with him.
He pushed the victim twice to the chest before walking off.
Police were called, found the defendant and required him to undergo a breath screening test.
He was uncooperative and abusive, and when taken to the police station, refused to allow a blood sample to be taken.
He then punched glass panels separating the charge room from another area of the station, and broke the glass fascia.
It is McNeill’s second conviction for assaulting a taxi driver, and his third drinkdriving conviction.
A presentence report found he has ‘‘challenges with alcohol’’.
McNeill admitted charges of assaulting Mr Bhullar, intentionally damaging a safety glass fascia, property of NZ Police, and refusing to permit a blood specimen.
McNeill was appearing in the Queenstown District Court yesterday before Judge Bernadette Farnan.
She sentenced him to nine months’ supervision for intervention for alcohol issues, and disqualified him from driving for eight months.
He was also fined $1500, court costs $130 and ordered to pay $311.13 reparation to the police.
Other convictions
Shane Gregory Howard (28), of Queensland, wilful damage, fined $650, court costs $130, discharged without conviction after writing a letter of apology to the victim.
Robert William Gordon (37), driver, of Wanaka, assault, November 23, Wanaka. Sentence deferred six months, ordered to pay $300 donation to the Salvation Army.
Thomas Craig Myles (26), builder, of Wanaka, disorderly behaviour likely to cause violence, December 21, Wanaka, fined $250, court costs $130.
Nathan Lawrence Hedley Bayle (29), of Queenstown, burglary, January 1, in Queenstown, fined $250, payable to the Salvation Army, court costs $130.
Shanon David Mann (41), painter, of Dunedin, breach of community work, March 18 last year, Dunedin, convicted and discharged; driving while disqualified (third or subsequent conviction), July 5 last year, Auckland, two months’ community work, 220 hours’ community work, disqualified 13 months.
Drinkdriving
Ian David Kerr (31), of Dunedin, drinkdriving (second conviction), 720mcg, December 28, Otematata, nine months’ supervision for intervention for alcohol issues, 150 hours’ community work, court costs $130, disqualified eight months with zeroalcohol licence provisions.
Samantha Robyn Morgan (22), of Wanaka, drinkdriving, 491mcg, WanakaLuggate Highway, January 25, fined $550, court costs $130, disqualified six months.
James David Gemmell (41), driver, of Wanaka, 981mcg, Aubrey Rd, January 9, 120 hours’ community work, disqualified for 28 days with alcohol interlock and zeroalcohol licence provisions, 120 hours’ community work.
Clara Samantha Breeze (23), French national, living in Glenorchy, drinkdriving, 600mcg, Lake Esplanade, February 5, fined $700, court costs $130, disqualified six months.
Sebastian Labarca Aronowsky (29), Chilean national living in Queenstown, drinkdriving, 144mg, Stanley St, January 25, fined $800, court costs $130, disqualified six months; driving while suspended, Stanley St, February 10, fined $250, court costs $130, disqualified six months (cumulative).
Gregory May (34), of Queenstown, drinkdriving, 686mcg, December 30, Lake Esplanade, fined $750, court costs $130, disqualified six months.
Guido Gorrieri (22), of Kelvin Heights, drinkdriving, 580mcg, Frankton Rd, December 18, fined $650, court costs $130, disqualified six months.