Reckless driver remains in custody on 7 charges

Raymond John Mosley has admitted driving recklessly around Timaru streets while pursued by police in early November.

Mosley admitted the November 3 charge of reckless driving, along with failing to stop for police and possessing methamphetamine, when he appeared via an audiovisual link from Christchurch Prison in the Timaru District Court on Tuesday before Judge Dominic Dravitzki.

However, the 44-year-old from Rangiora, pleaded not guilty to four other charges – assault with intent to injure at Waimate (October 29), possessing a knife without reasonable excuse, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and failing to remain stopped.

The two driving charges admitted relate to November 3, when police received reports of a black sedan being driven dangerously on State Highway 1 in the Rakaia area.

Police reportedly hunted the vehicle for up to two hours as it was spotted at one stage heading towards Ashburton and failed to pull over for police.

It was later tracked to Timaru and the Pages Rd and Selwyn St areas and reported as being followed by several police vehicles with police eventually arresting two people in Wilson St.

Eyewitnesses told The Timaru Herald how scared they were, and the evasive actions they took to avoid the recklessly-driven vehicle, that also had a female passenger.

Mosley also has three other charges before the courts – possessing cannabis plant and utensils and unlawfully taking a vehicle – with Judge Dravitzki saying he was due to be sentenced on January 18 in Christchurch on those matters.

Judge Dravitzki, in noting the guilty and not guilty pleas, said he would remand all matters to a case review hearing on January 24. He also noted Mosley had a December 13 appearance for an electronically monitored bail application before the court.

Mosley was remanded back in custody and reminded that he was to have no contact with the person involved in the assault with intent to injure charge.

The passenger, a 30-yearold woman from Christchurch, is facing charges of unlawfully getting into a vehicle at Riccarton, Christchurch; aiding Mosley to dangerously drive a vehicle on State Highway 1 from Rakaia to Wilson St, Timaru, and being found without lawful excuse on a property in Wilson St, Timaru – all alleged to have occurred on November 3.

Sex charge admitted

Name suppression lapsed for a Timaru man who appeared yesterday on a charge of sexual connection with a 15-year-old girl.

Ethan James Ferguson, 21, admitted the charge, laid representatively, which occurred in May 2022.

A summary of facts was not read in court as a part was disputed by the defendant.

Judge Dravitzki said the prosecution had only become aware of the disputed material late in proceedings and there “needs to be some discussion”.

“I remand you [on bail] to appear again on December 13 to enable these discussions to take place,” the judge said.

Ferguson was charged, along with a 26-year-old man, whose name remains suppressed, and they first appeared in court on November 1.