Dunedin District Court

SENTENCES imposed by Judge Michael Turner in the Dunedin District Court yesterday were. —

Levi Troy Paul (36), cleaner, of Kaitangata, driving while disqualified, assault, threatening to kill, theft from a dwelling (drove to Balclutha to lend victim a lawnmower, argued with the man, punched him in the face, picked up a steak knife and said “I could end your life with this”; Paul left when police arrived, officers found items belonging to victim in defendant’s car; counsel Brendan Stephenson said his client had recently been promoted to a managerial position at work), August 28, Gormack St, four months’ home detention, $500 reparation, 13 months’ disqualification.

Martin Ralph Bowler (30), of Dunedin, assault (Bowler arrived at address where victim was visiting a friend, without warning punched her on the right cheek, force of the blow knocked her on to a bed, victim got to her feet to leave, Bowler later bolted past her and pushed her into a bush, she was left with bruises, defendant was not interviewed by police for some time because he claimed to have Covid19 symptoms; later told police he attacked victim because of social media post, Judge Turner noted Bowler was on release conditions from other violent offending at time of recent attack, he showed “minimal remorse”), April 5, three months’ jail.

Naomi Lee Morrison (41), beneficiary, of Milton, wounding with reckless disregard, assault with a weapon (weeks after giving birth to third child went to partner’s home exhausted, consumed homebrewed bourbon, grabbed a serrated knife from kitchen and said she would selfharm, when victim intervened he sustained 10cm cut to his forearm, later tried to hit him with a large pot but missed; Judge Turner said defendant was “quite literally out of control” at the time but had since made changes, court heard she had been alcoholfree and drugfree for nine months and was considered as being at a low risk of reoffending), March 20, 2018, nine months’ intensive supervision, 300 hours’ community work.

Michael Justin Todd (53), farmer, of Momona, breach of protection order (protection order issued after breakdown of 26year relationship, waited outside victim’s home, yelled angrily at her, later drove a tractor towards her vehicle, caused her to slow down, glared at her, shouted and swore), August 23; breach of protection order (approached victim at work and told her he needed to talk, followed her, yelled about access to his children and lawyers, later approached her twice more regarding the same subjects, Todd told her he was getting “angrier and angrier”), September 1011; breach of protection order (Todd called teenage farm employee, asked whether his expartner was in relationship, asked the teen to keep an eye on the victim and inform him if she was seen with other men; Judge Turner said it amounted to psychological abuse and “controlling behaviour”), November 7; 80 hours’ community work, nine months’ supervision.

Jayden Hill (21), of Port Chalmers, assault in a family relationship (argued with partner over location of phone charger, grabbed victim round throat and said he would not let go until she told him where it was, punched her in lower body, Hill pulled her back when she tried to leave, threatened to take their 7weekold baby if she left, removed phone from victim’s hand when she tried to call police, pulled landline phone from socket, argument continued until victim’s brother intervened; court heard victim supported Hill and refused a protection order, counsel Rhona Daysh said the couple had undergone a successful restorative justice meeting and Hill was committed to being violencefree), January 9, two months’ community detention, nine months’ supervision.

Daniel Gordon Webb (37), of Dunedin, assault in a family relationship (at his partner’s home, argument developed outside, victim ran away, Webb chased and caught her in middle of road, put her in “headlock” and dragged her back, member of public drove past and stopped car, Webb approached them in aggressive manner then went to his vehicle; Judge Turner said defendant’s comments showed he had little insight into his offending, he described the incident as “a nonevent”), January 8, 80 hours’ community work.

Logan Troy Hinds (48), of Dunedin, careless driving causing injury (driving in wet and foggy conditions, failed to see car reversing from driveway, unable to avoid collision, both victim and defendant taken to hospital, blood sample showed active ingredient of cannabis, victim sustained concussion, Hinds was still off work and using a crutch for his injuries, victim’s car was written off and uninsured), 9am, October 10, Dalziel Rd, one month community detention, six months’ disqualification, $5500 reparation (to be paid at $10 a week).

Sentenced by Judge Michael Crosbie were. —

Richard Mason McQuarrie (32), employed, drinkdriving, 895mcg (living in Cromwell during Covid19 lockdown, argument with flatmate, consumed alcohol, decided to drive to Dunedin, drank alcohol in vehicle on the way, drove across centre line on sharp corner to park on incorrect side of road outside a dairy in Whitehaven St, Lawrence), about 9.35pm, April 3, six months’ home detention (with six months’ postdetention conditions), disqualified 28 days (alcohol interlock and zeroalcohol licence provisions to follow). Judge said McQuarrie had four previous relevant drinkdrive convictions (most recent in 2013) and other driving convictions, said ‘‘just and only just’’ sentencing him short of imprisonment, accepted he was in throes of mental health issues and depression at time, noted sevenyear gap since last drinkdriving.

Potiki Talia Clarke (32), of Dunedin, disqualified driving (in explanation said the two people with her were too drunk to drive and she was taking them home; she knew she had done wrong, had no excuse), State Highway 1, AllantonWaihola Rd, about 11.50pm, June 27, fined $400, court costs $130, disqualified six months (remains under indefinite disqualification imposed 2016).

Brenton James Cook (31), employed, unlawfully taking thenemployer’s van, and careless driving (van parked in Gavan St, Cromwell; to be used by employees only with employer’s consent; Cook drove van to Balclutha without consent, early hours next day driving back towards Cromwell, exhausted, fell asleep behind wheel, van drifted left off the road, struck bank and overturned; passing motorist notified police; Cook not injured, admitted knowing he was not meant to be driving the van as it was outside the hours in which he had permission to do so), FruitlandsRoxburgh Rd, February 3, overall sentence 200 hours’ community work, $500 reparation.

Timothy John Kuskis (50), unemployed, dishonestly using bank card (came into possession of victim’s wallet containing Paywave bank card and $100 petrol voucher, about February 6; between then and February 9 used card at Mornington Countdown and Mornington Night ’N Day multiple times to obtain items including tobacco and pet food to total value $255.07; identified on CCTV; in explanation said found the wallet on the street, after using the card returned it to the same location), 150 hours’ community work, reparation $255.07 and $100.