Dunedin District Court

SENTENCED by community magistrate Simon Heale in the Dunedin District Court yesterday were. —

Hayley Bryan (47), drugimpaired driving, and careless driving (police received *555 call about manner in which Bryan’s vehicle being driven on State Highway 1 between Dunedin and Palmerston, about 4.35pm on February 6; the vehicle seen to be repeatedly crossing the centre line, at times by about half a car width, also swerving dramatically within its lane; approaching Waikouaiti, vehicle crossed centre line and struck driver’s door wing mirror of oncoming vehicle, Bryan continued without stopping; police stopped her near Palmerston, her speech slow, she was unsteady on her feet and leaning on the boot of her vehicle, admitted having taken prescription medicine for anxiety and depression, test showed her blood to contain methamphetamine and THC; in explanation Bryan said she was tired, wasn’t thinking, had only a short way to go, what she had done was ‘‘dumb and stupid’’), overall sentence nine months’ supervision, medical and analyst’s expenses $713.94, disqualified nine months.

Warwick Leslie Grenfell (58), employed, of Waitati, drinkdriving, 177mg (on northern motorway approaching Waitati stopped for speeding, admitted he had drunk alcohol and done ‘‘a silly thing, driving after drinking’’), about 6.15pm, June 15, fined $700, court costs $130, medical expenses $216.15, disqualified 28 days (alcoholinterlock and zeroalcohol licence provisions to follow). Counsel Ann Leonard said Grenfell was having a very bad day, ‘‘things became a little unstuck’’. Magistrate noted Grenfell had one previous drinkdrive conviction, in 2008.

Angela May Taylor (38), secretary, of Dunedin, drinkdriving, 732mcg (checkpoint stop; said thought she was all right to drive to a friend's address), George St, about 8.25pm, June 21, fined $700, court costs $130, disqualified six months. Counsel Rhona Daysh said Taylor had absolutely no idea she was so far over the limit, ‘‘mortified to be in here today . . . determined not to repeat'', she had a prior relevant conviction 20 years ago.

Glen Adrian Hibbs (25), employed, of Mosgiel, drinkdriving, 553mcg (stopped by police, said had had about six drinks before driving), Hasborough Pl, Balclutha, about 7.15pm, June 19, fined $650, court costs $130, disqualified 28 days (alcoholinterlock and zeroalcohol licence provisions to follow). Counsel Ann Leonard said Hibbs had a relevant previous conviction last year, ‘‘he’s very very aware he’s skating on thin ice . . . intends to access help’’.

Casey Benjamin Patterson (20), employed, of Westwood, drinkdriving, 444mcg (random stop; admitted drinking eight10 Vodka Cruisers the night before, having his last drink at 3am; stated ‘‘I feel fine, I was just going to pick a mate up’’), Albany St, about 8am, June 28, fined $500, court costs $130, disqualified six months. Magistrate noted Patterson had one previous drinkdrive conviction, exceeding level for person aged under 20, last year.

Benjamin John Macdonald Harding (19), student, of Christchurch, drinkdriving aged under 20, 398mcg (stopped by police in Kensington St; said had his last beer about five hours before), 9.18pm, May 27, fined $300, court costs $130, disqualified three months. Counsel Jo Turner said Harding out socialising with friends, going to Pak'nSave to pick up supplies, Harding had had less to drink than the others, driving responsibility fell on him. Magistrate noted Harding not previously before the court.

Finn Smith (18), of Dunedin, dangerous driving, and aggravated failing to stop for police (in Victoria Rd, Smith passed another vehicle at 70kmh in 50kmh residential area; did not stop for red and blue flashing lights, instead accelerated and began to flee; pursuit initiated with police ‘‘red and blues’’ and siren activated; Smith began driving dangerously, reaching speeds about 90kmh in 50kmh zone; pursuit abandoned after 25 seconds due to his dangerous speed; his vehicle found about two minutes later, abandoned, in Tomahawk Rd; tracked by police dog, Smith was located in Tomahawk lagoon; in explanation he stated he ‘‘ran’’ because he had no licence), about 1am, June 27, disqualified 12 months (six months for dangerous driving, six more to follow for aggravated failing to stop). Counsel Steve Turner said Smith had a passion for working on cars, went for a drive with his mate, panicked when he saw police; Smith a first offender. Magistrate told Smith the message he and others need to get is ‘‘when those lights are activated, stop’’).

Brian Matakino Croft (53), freezing worker, of Palmerston, dangerous driving, and failing to stop for police (Croft driving 1600cc HarleyDavidson from Waikouaiti to his home in Palmerston, in 100kmh passing lanes his speed checked at 127kmh by plain oncoming police patrol; with ‘‘red and blues’’ and siren activated, police pulled left to allow traffic to pass then made Uturn, Croft near end of passing lanes by then, police gave chase, kept him under observation; pursuit lasted about 10km, Croft passing two cars on yellow line at one stage, ‘‘undertaking’’ two cars on the left on Happy Valley straight, and at at one point reaching speed of 187kmh; about 1km south of Palmerston, Croft pulled over and stopped; spoken to apologised for putting police and other road users in danger, said he’d been ‘‘stupid’’), about 3.15pm, June 13, for dangerous driving fined $700, court costs $130, disqualified nine months, for failing to stop disqualified nine months (concurrent). Magistrate took into account Croft made the decision to stop, said ‘‘encouraged’’ to hear that during the pursuit it occurred to him to think of the interests of his family.

Finn Newnham Scarth (19), high school pupil, of Dunedin, driving at dangerous speed (driving on Kaitangata highway towards Balclutha, no passengers, overtook vehicle at speed, went over solid yellow lines on to wrong side of road, police travelling in opposite direction radarchecked his speed at 153kmh in 100kmh zone, slowed to stop him crashing into them; back in his lane, Newnham Scarth continued along highway at speed until police conducted traffic stop; in explanation Newnham Scarth said it was a new vehicle, he was overtaking and did not realise how fast the vehicle accelerated), about 6.40pm, July 3, fined $200, court costs $100, disqualified six months. Newnham Scarth not previously before the court.

Samban Ith (39), employed, of Dunedin, driving while driver licence suspended, Turangi, March 30, fined $500, court costs $130, no disqualification (special reasons).

Tyrone Andrews (29), single parent, of Balclutha, operating vehicle so it had sustained loss of traction (did burnouts, leaving large number circular black rubber marks; spoken to a week later admitted the offence, said the burnouts lasted about a minute, he was just being stupid), Cross Recreation Centre car park, Balclutha, about 9.40pm, May 1, disqualified six months.

Zak Joel Foreman (24), beneficiary, theft (issues with people stealing wood from Earnslaw 1 Limited forestry blocks resulted in the company setting up cameras in numerous locations to try to deter and catch offenders; Foreman’s vehicle was photographed by one of the cameras; about 4pm, May 6, in Manuka Rd, Rongahere, with ute and trailer, Foreman loaded his trailer with wood that had been cut and left the previous day and took the trailerload of wood to his home; spoken to, he said he had been to the area twice to get wood; no reparation sought), sentence deferred nine months, court costs $130. Public defender Karlena Lawrence said coming into winter Foreman wanted to get some firewood for his family; he thought he was able to take the wood from where he did and that he had permission, but that was not the case; Foreman had not previously been convicted of dishonesty.

Sentenced by Judge Mark Callaghan were. —

Brent Douglas Cleghorn (39), of Dunedin, breach of parole (Cleghorn was sentenced to three and ahalf years' imprisonment on burglary and other dishonesty charges, released from prison on May 9, monitoring company received alert the defendant had tampered with his GPS tracker, Cleghorn explained he removed the device because he did not fit in at Moana House and was on the receiving end of jokes; court heard he had since been recalled to prison and was next before the Parole Board in September), June 20, six weeks' imprisonment.

Gavin John Stott (51), painter, of Dunedin, assault (Stott was drinking with others, argued with son, later at another address fought with son, wrestled on the floor, former partner tried to pull defendant away, hit her in the face and chest, received a bruise to her cheek; victim said she did not feel safe around Stott and that he needed “serious help”), April 21, nine months' supervision, 80 hours' community work.

Ethan Partel (26), labourer, of Mosgiel, speaking threateningly (Partel threatened via Facebook to slit the victim's throat as well as making other derogatory comments, two days later while picking up his son said he would torch her car if she disposed of his mail), March 1315, six months' supervision, protection order made in favour of the victim.