Teenager too immature to drive – judge

A teenager who led police on a chase for nearly 3 kilometres was yesterday told he was too immature to drive and his conduct was ‘‘the worst piece of driving’’ the judge had encountered in a long time, when he appeared in the Gore District Court.

Lucas James Taia, 18, farmer, appeared before Judge Michael Turner and was remanded to May 2 for sentence for driving while disqualified, driving dangerously and failing to stop for red and blue flashing lights at Wyndham on January 14.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Grant Gerken said Taia had three passengers in the vehicle when he saw a marked police patrol car turn into a street and head towards him.

His driving included cutting a corner and reaching at least 140kmh, Mr Gerken said.

Passengers in his vehicle could see the flashing lights and told Taia but he continued to accelerate, he said.

At an intersection he attempted to make a left turn but braked heavily and skidded across the intersection, which caused the vehicle to hit a concrete gutter on the wrong side of the road, he said.

The vehicle bounced up and over a small gravel mound and came to rest sideways, Mr Gerken said.

The impact broke a large chunk out of the concrete gutter and cracked the front right wheel rim of the vehicle but he continued to drive on the grass for 10 metres and back onto the road, Mr Gerken said.

He continued for another 300 metres before the right front tyre came off the cracked rim and he pulled over, he said.

He told police one of his passengers had told him where to go to get away from police and he also admitted being disqualified.

Taia had travelled a total of 2.9km from where he saw police to where he finally stopped, Mr Gerken said.

Judge Turner said it was one of the worst pieces of driving he had encountered in a long time and told Taia he was too immature for the privilege of driving.

Trespass

Assault

Intentional damage

Burglary

Disorderly behaviour

Breach

Terrance Charles De Clifford, 24, shearer, was sentenced to 75 hours’ community work for behaving in a disorderly manner likely to cause violence on January 28.

Lisa Anne Harris, 33, was fined $250 for behaving in a disorderly manner likely to cause violence on February 11. Terence Francis Haggart, 49, freezing worker, was fined $150 for wilfully trespassing on February 11. Luke James Maloney, 22, was remanded to February 17 after he admitted three charges of assault on December 18 and driving while forbidden at Mataura on January 19.

A 40-year-old woman was convicted and discharged for assault on December 19.

Vernon Neil Bugden, 31, farm worker, of Edendale, was sentenced to nine months’ jail for two charges of assault on September 11 and October 17, possessing an offensive weapon, namely a knife, on October 17 and breaching release conditions on September 2.

Leah Patricia Margaret Soper, 20, cook, of Mataura, was fined $300 and sentenced to six months’ supervision for two charges of assault on February 5. Lisa Ann Martin, 27, of Mataura, was remanded to April 4 for sentence for intentionally damaging a vehicle at Winton on May 18, 2010, theft at Winton on October 7, 2010, and two charges of breaching community work on November 12 and January 12.

Michael David Smith, 40, mechanic, was fined $100 and ordered to pay $350 reparation for intentionally damaging the rear window of a vehicle and possessing an offensive weapon, a socket wrench, on December 19. Hendrix Tamariki Russell Kamo, 22, of Wendon, was sentenced to 100 hours’ community work for burglary at Wendonside on November 8.

Zac Lance Pearsey, 28, was convicted

Using a document

and discharged for breaching community work on December 24.

James Murray Dickson, 19, was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within four months for breaching supervision on December 9.

Desiree Fay Weston, 22, of Mataura, was convicted and discharged on two charges of breaching community work on October 13 and November 5.

Kajahna Gemma Louise SmithMcnoe, 22, was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months for breaching intensive supervision on January 19.

Hayley Maree Turnbull, 26, was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months for breaching intensive supervision on January 9. Marcel Benjamin Hesse, 24, of East Gore, was sentenced to 150 hours’ community work and ordered to pay $500 reparation for dishonestly using a document, namely a Westpac eftpos card, with intent to obtain pecuniary advantage at Gore on November 14.

Cannabis

Jade Allan Thomas Wilson, 29, seasonal worker, of Mataura, was fined $200 for possessing cannabis at Mataura on January 18.

Driving

Michael Batt, 42, driver, of Tapanui, was ordered to pay $970 reparation and $500 emotional harm reparation and disqualified from driving for six months for careless driving causing injury at Tapanui on November 6.

Jamie-lee Helen Cruickshank, 21, of East Gore, was remanded to April 4 for sentence for driving while disqualified and with a breath alcohol level of 379mcg (under 20) at Invercargill on December 20.

Michael John Peek, 27, was remanded to February 17 for sentence for driving while his licence was revoked on January 7.

Wade Matthew Taylor, 28, shearer, of Glenham, was remanded to May 2 for sentence for driving with a breath alcohol level of 742mcg at Wyndham on January 8 and breaching supervision on November 22.

Nardia Matekino Maisie Whaitiri, 33, of Riversdale, was sentenced to a total of two years’ supervision, 60 hours’ community work, disqualified from driving for six months and ordered to pay $250 emotional harm reparation for driving while forbidden, resisting police and refusing to accompany police on October 14 and possessing an offensive weapon and wilful damage.

Joshua James Reynolds, 25, labourer, was sentenced to six months’ community detention and disqualified from driving for 12 months for driving while disqualified and sustained loss of traction at Mataura on November 18.

Shea Mitchell Taylor, 22, boner, was sentenced to eight months’ jail and disqualified from driving indefinitely for driving while disqualified and with a breath alcohol level of 842mcg on September 15.

Benjamin Thomas Hayward, 21, freezing worker, of Mandeville, was sentenced to nine months’ intensive supervision, five months’ community detention, 150 hours’ community work and disqualified from driving indefinitely for dangerous driving, failing to stop for red and blue flashing lights and driving with a breath alcohol level of 640mcg on November 19.

Tracy Wilson, 43, of Mataura, was fined $300, 150 hours’ community work and disqualified for 12 months’ for driving while disqualified on January 18.

Licia Daphne Beale, 22, butcher, was remanded to February 17 for sentence for driving dangerously and with a breath alcohol level of 946mcg on January 28.

Benjamin James Newby, 27, shearer, of East Gore, was sentenced to 150 hours’ community work and disqualified from driving for eight months for driving with a breath alcohol level of 803mcg and being found without reasonable excuse in an enclosed yard on January 29.

Drink-driving

Richard James Campbell, 43, of Mandeville, was fined $1200 and disqualified from driving for nine months for driving with a breath alcohol level of 1000mcg at Riversdale on February 4.

Kahn Michael Culshaw, 17, shearer, of Mataura, 378mcg (under 20) on February 11. He was fined $200 and disqualified for three months.