A Blenheim teenager has admitted his part in a series of thefts at the Waikawa Marina.
Shannon Robert Ward, 19, pleaded guilty to a list of charges when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Graham Single said Ward and an associate went to the marina on September 7 and came up with a plan to steal a dinghy from a yacht and then hide in the Marlborough Sounds.
The pair took a dinghy from under bushes on the foreshore and rowed out to a moored yacht, boarded it and cut loose a three-metre inflatable dinghy with an outboard motor, Mr Single said. They started the motor and towed the first dinghy back to shore, but could not get the motor to work properly.
The pair tied the inflatable dinghy to a jetty, then found another outboard motor in a secure compound, Mr Single said. Ward and his associate crawled under the fence and disconnected the motor. They also broke into a boat in the compound and took a gas cooker, a gas bottle and a frying pan.
The pair were seen by a witness, who called the police. They found a third dinghy and dumped its outboard into the sea so they could put the stolen motor in its place.
Ward admitted taking the first two dinghies and the outboard motor, but denied being there when the outboard from the third dinghy was dumped, Mr Single said.
Judge Stephen Harrop convicted Ward and remanded him on bail to be sentenced on October 11.
Growing cannabis
A 37-year-old Picton father who was growing cannabis under his house will be sentenced in November.
Aaron David Reece admitted possessing cannabis material and cannabis seeds and cultivating cannabis, and was remanded on bail to November 15.
Mr Single said police searched the house where Reece lived with his wife and child on September 16, and found the cannabis plants via an access door in the garage.
They found about 3.6 kilograms of cannabis, which had a value of about $2500, and a total of 1448 cannabis seeds. Reece told police the cannabis was for his own use.
Converted cubicle
A 36-year-old Picton man converted a shower cubicle in his home into a cannabis-growing area, police say.
James Spence yesterday admitted charges of possessing cannabis, cannabis seeds and utensils to smoke cannabis, and cultivating cannabis.
Mr Single said Spence showed police the cubicle when they searched his house. Police also found about 150 grams of cannabis, plastic bongs, 29 cannabis seeds and three seeds growing in pots outside.
Spence told police he grew cannabis for his own use and smoked it daily.
Spence was remanded on bail and will be sentenced on November 22.
Double the limit
A Blenheim man caught driving from a Wairau Valley pub to Blenheim with more than double the legal blood alcohol limit was sentenced to community detention yesterday.
Jody Frank Woledge, 43, was sentenced to six months community detention, 225 hours of community work and 12 months supervision, and was disqualified for 18 months and ordered to pay a total of $338 in medical fees, for his fourth conviction for driving with excess breath alcohol.
Judge Harrop also ordered Woledge to have no interest in a motor vehicle for 12 months, meaning he would have to give up ownership of any personal vehicles for that period.
Woledge was stopped by police on July 11 and was found to have a blood alcohol level of 174 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.
"I'm not sure how far away [from Blenheim] you were stopped, but you at least had the intention of exposing other road users for an extended period of time," the judge said.
Woledge, who represented himself, denied telling police he drove drunk "all the time". He said he missed a scheduled alcohol and drug appointment because he worked long hours.
He had made a "bad error of judgment", he said.
Judge Harrop said Woledge's attitude and history were "worrying", with each previous drink-driving conviction involving more than double the legal limit, and in one case three times the limit.
"You've been given lectures by judges before to help you change your ways, and it hasn't worked. What I'm giving you today is a last chance to stay in the community," he said.
Asleep at the wheel
A Brazilian national found asleep at the wheel in his stationary car in the middle of the road was sentenced to community work.
Lucas Santana Calixto, 21, vineyard worker, admitted driving with excess breath alcohol and driving while disqualified. He was sentenced to 180 hours of community work, 12 months disqualification and a further six months concurrent disqualification.
Calixto was also ordered not to have an interest in a motor vehicle for 12 months.
Mr Single said Calixto was driving in Kinross St about 4.30am on September 12. Someone called the police, who found the car stopped in the middle of the road.
Calixto was asleep and had his seatbelt on, but the car's engine was not running. He was found to have excess breath alcohol of 712 micrograms per litre of breath. The legal limit is 400mcg.
Defence lawyer Bryony Millar said Calixto was in the country on a working holiday and could speak little English, which left few options besides community work.
Drink-driving charges
Other drink-driving matters dealt with yesterday:
Richard Francis Rutland, 55, shearer, Blenheim, 706mcg, third or subsequent charge; convicted and remanded for sentencing on November 8.
Vincent Roy Gardiner, 27, pilot, Blenheim, 692mcg and driving while disqualified; 160 hours community work, nine months disqualification, six months supervision, and six months disqualification (concurrent) for driving while disqualified.
Gregory John Blick, 23, builder, Blenheim, 713mcg; $700 fine, six months disqualification.
Joshua Martin Svensson, 19, meat inspector, Blenheim, 985mcg and driving while disqualified; convicted and remanded for sentencing on November 22.
Seth John Nicholls, 19, labourer, Blenheim, 932mcg; $950 fine, six months disqualification.
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