Teen drove car at bully student

A Taranaki teenager drove his car at a fellow student he claimed had been bullying him, a court has heard.

The victim leaped out of the way after a member of the public called out, police prosecutor sergeant Steve Hickey told the Hāwera District Court.

A police patrol witnessed Leighwae Paul Pene, 17, driving along a short stretch of footpath towards another person early on Monday.

The police had just arrived at the car park of the War Memorial Hall in Stratford at 7.10am after they heard Pene’s vehicle making a loud noise from their nearby station and went to investigate.

‘‘He proceeded to do a burnout on the wet tarseal by doing what is known as a doughnut,’’ Hickey said.

The defendant parked his vehicle up for a moment then he saw the victim in this matter walking to a bus shelter near the car park entrance. He then drove his car towards the victim.

‘‘Police witnessed this driving and activated lights and siren. The defendant parked his car 20 metres away and was arrested,’’ Hickey said.

In explanation for driving his car at the victim, the defendant told police he just wanted to scare the victim and ‘‘give him a little tap with his car and not hurt him’’.

Pene pleaded guilty in the Hāwera District Court on Tuesday to one charge of behaving threateningly and one of driving in a manner to cause sustained loss of traction.

Lawyer Kelly Marriner said there was some conflict between Pene and the victim prior to the offence, at a course they were both attending.

‘‘That person has been engaging in bullying conduct and has been aggressive to this defendant and spreading malicious gossip.’’

The victim had since been trespassed from the course, she said.

The defendant, at just 17, realised his actions were foolish, she said.

‘‘He knows he will now end up with a criminal conviction and mandatory disqualification.’’

She urged Judge Lynne Harrison to impose a suspended sentence and disqualification on Pene.

‘‘Taking into account the surrounding circumstances and that he knows if he reoffends there will be consequences. The bullying wasn’t just verbal, it was physical as well.’’

Judge Harrison said Pene had come very close to being charged with using his vehicle as a weapon.

‘‘You have gone out of your way to behave inappropriately, you took matters into your own hands. There is also a question of safety of the public when you’re busy doing burnouts and driving on the footpath.’’

She sentenced him to come up if called upon for six months on the behaving threateningly charge, and disqualified him from driving for six months on the sustained loss of traction charge.