Boyfriend says he drove off in car in a panic
A judge has slammed a Blenheim couple for leading police on a "wild goose chase" after court bailiffs tried to seize a car.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve Frost said court bailiffs went to 22-year-old Rebecca Rose Foster's home in Blenheim at 9.50am on March 9 to seize her car because of her unpaid fines but her boyfriend, 27-year-old unemployed man Tai Hapata Cameron Gorrie, took it away and hid it.
Foster told police another man had taken the car, Mr Frost said. They found Gorrie at Foster's home the next day and later found the car.
Gorrie admitted taking a seized car and driving while disqualified while Foster admitted obstructing police. Gorrie's defence counsel Phillip Watson said Gorrie was asleep before the bailiffs arrived and "wasn't sure what was going on". He "was told that someone was taking the car and drove the car in a panic".
Foster's defence counsel Kent Arnott said she admitted her behaviour was inappropriate.
Judge Richard Russell said Gorrie "knew exactly what he was doing" when he took the car.
To Foster, he said: "Police have a difficult enough job to do without wasting time chasing round on a wild goose chase."
Gorrie was sentenced to 80 hours' community work and disqualified from driving for a further six months. Foster got 50 hours' community work.
Victims sickened
Victims of a Blenheim burglar had been sickened by the damage done to their homes, the judge said.
Ryan Graham Stretch, 19, unemployed, was sentenced to four months' jail on four charges of burglary, one of cultivating cannabis and one of breaching community work. He was also ordered to pay $2685 reparation.
Mr Frost said Stretch and two accomplices used a rock to smash a window at the Brayshaw Park vintage machinery rooms early on January 3, stealing beer and a computer hard drive. Stretch was identified through fingerprints at the scene. Later the same night the three used a long pole to smash a window in the Marlborough Boys' College canteen before one of them went in and threw food out to the others.
Police dogs tracked the three, following a trail of confectionery, to a Scott St house.
While on bail for the two burglaries Stretch burgled two holiday homes in Picton, Mr Frost said. He and an associate took an aluminium dinghy from the Waikawa marina before heading to two holiday homes. They smashed the door with a sledgehammer and took several items including a television. At the next home they ransacked the furniture, spread tomato sauce and maple syrup over the floor and took gear including a chainsaw and leaf blower.
Judge Russell said he was aware Stretch had been diagnosed as having ADHD. He called the crimes abhorrent and said the court and community would not tolerate them.
Co-accused Karl Brian Shirley-McKay, 19, of Blenheim was also sentenced for the Brayshaw Park and college burglaries to six months' community detention, 125 hours' community detention and 12 months' intensive supervision.
Evacuee assaulted
The victim of an assault in Nelson, who suffered a broken nose and two black eyes, was in the city taking a break from aftershocks in Christchurch, Judge Russell said.
Blenheim man Vincent Collins, 21, a forestry worker, yesterday admitted assaulting the man and was sentenced to 80 hour's community work and to pay $450 emotional harm.
Mr Frost said Collins had an argument with the victim on Bridge St in Nelson about 3am on February 26. Collins saw the victim again a short time later and punched him twice in the face, making his nose bleed.
He told police the victim was "getting cheeky" to him.
Defence counsel John Holdaway said Collins was sorry for his actions.
Judge Russell said the victim was stressed out during the earthquake and was trying to get away. "The last thing he needed was to have this behaviour from you."
Threw phone book
A man who threw a phone book at his mother after an argument treated her appallingly, Judge Russell said.
Wiremu Waerea, 19, of Seddon, yesterday admitted assault and was sentenced to 60 hours' community work.
Mr Frost said Waerea was sitting with his mother and her friend at her home in Seddon about 12.45pm on December 28. He asked his mother for a small loan, which she refused.
Waerea went to use the computer but became angry when he heard the two women talking about him and confronted them, Mr Frost said.
He was told to leave, but picked up a chair and threw it on the ground and threw a phone book at her face. She suffered a small cut to her eyelid.
Defence counsel Tane Brunt said there had been "a major communication breakdown" between Waerea and his mother. Judge Russell said he was appalled at the way Waerea treated his mother.
Victim unconscious
A Blenheim teenager yesterday admitted assaulting a man and leaving him lying on the ground unconscious.
Levi Ramon Selwyn, 18, a vineyard worker, was fined $500, ordered to pay $450 emotional harm, court costs and sentenced to six months' supervision.
Mr Frost said Selwyn was in a car at the New World carpark in Blenheim about 1am on December 5 when the victim and his wife walked past. One of the the passengers yelled out to the couple and the conversation with the woman became heated, he said. The husband intervened to calm the situation, but was punched at least once and landed on the ground. He hit his head and was knocked unconscious.
Misusing a phone
Noel James Atkins, 44, a fisherman of Elaine Bay, Marlborough Sounds, admitted three charges of misusing a telephone and was fined $150 and ordered to pay court costs.
Cultivating cannabis
Russell David Blake, 40, unemployed of Blenheim, admitted cultivating cannabis and possession of utensils to smoke cannabis and will be sentenced on April 18.
Driving while suspended
Kelly Ann Zimmerman, 27, a vineyard worker of Blenheim, admitted driving while suspended and was ordered to complete 40 hours' community work and disqualified for six months.
Loss of traction
Vincent David Hodgson, 18, of Blenheim, admitted sustained loss of traction and was sentenced to 50 hours' community work and disqualified for six months.
Two charges
Karen Marie Mitchell, 38, of Mahau Sound, admitted assault and threatening language and was fined $350, court costs and ordered to pay $200 in emotional harm.
Supplying a minor
Lenita Vicky Markham, 19, a waitress of Blenheim, admitted selling liquor to a minor and was given a 12-month suspended sentence and ordered to pay court costs.
Breached liquor ban
Mark Joseph Rogers, 39, a vineyard worker of Blenheim, admitted breaching the liquor ban and was fined $300 and court costs.
Intentional damage
Jayde Conrad Apiata-Rattray, 19, of Blenheim, admitted theft and intentional damage and was sentenced to 80 hours' community work and $200 reparation.
Possession of drugs
Amy Lee Beattie, 27, of Blenheim, admitted possessing prescription drugs without excuse and needles to consume drugs and will be sentenced on March 28.
- The Marlborough Express Last updated 11:46 15/03/2011
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