Irate businessman slams sentence

A Blenheim businessman is furious his former employee has got off lightly for stealing more than $40,000 from his business.

"She went for a two-week holiday to Fiji at a five-star resort [over Christmas last year] on my money," Rod Thompson said yesterday after Karen Vunisa was sentenced in the Blenheim District Court.

"I spent a week in Christchurch with my brother-in-law."

He rejected a suggestion Vunisa took the money to feed a shopping addiction, saying she just wanted to live the good life.

Mr Thompson owns Marlborough TV Services, where Vunisa worked for eight years.

He bought the business four years ago and believes Vunisa started stealing after she got married about two years ago.

An accountant had checked the books in December and noticed the business had not been making any money.

Vunisa's stealing had almost sent the business under, Mr Thompson said.

While she had been convicted of stealing more than $40,000, she had not been sent to jail and had been ordered to repay only $15,000.

The judge said it was not realistic to make her pay more reparation, adding that Mr Thompson could take Vunisa to civil court to recoup the rest.

Mr Thompson said police had told him to think of the worst but hope for the best.

"This was my worst case scenario," he said.

"All I wanted was my money back and I didn't get it so, really, she won."

Vunisa was in charge of the daily running of the business and took the money by diverting it into her own bank account on 103 occasions.

"I trusted her as a friend. She even came to my wedding.

"The worst thing is that she could come to work and lie to my face like nothing was happening," Mr Thompson said.

He planned to take civil court action to recoup the remaining $25,000.

On top of the $15,000 reparation, Vunisa was sentenced to six months' home detention and 250 hours' community work.

She was also sentenced to two months' home detention, to run concurrently, for charging two items to the company without authority.

Mr Thompson said Vunisa was a "bad apple" but it did not change the way he saw people in general.

"I was way too trusting."

He takes care of business payments himself these days and said he would do police checks before hiring any new staff.

By Simon Wong - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 11:28 29/09/2010

Mum who stole $40,000 avoids jail

A 47-year-old Blenheim woman who embezzled more than $40,000 from her employer over 11 months was sentenced to home detention when she appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday.

Karen Lesley Vunisa was sentenced to six months' home detention, 250 hours' community work and ordered to pay $15,000 reparation to her former employer, Marlborough TV Services, on a charge of using a computer system for pecuniary advantage and two charges of obtaining ownership of property by deception.

Judge Stephen Harrop said Vunisa was in charge of the day-to-day running of the business and between February 2009 and January 2010 used an internet banking system to divert money from the business into her own account 103 times.

Vunisa also charged two items to the company without authority, he said.

Crown prosecutor Craig Stevenson said despite the 11-month period shown on the charge sheet, the offending happened over two years.

Forty thousand dollars was a significant amount for any small business and there was no prospect of Vunisa repaying a lump sum, he said. It was not realistic to pay the full amount other than to "drip feed" it, he said.

A starting point of 12 or 15 months' imprisonment would be appropriate, he said.

Defence counsel Bryony Millar said a report from Addiction Services showed Vunisa had underlying issues, including a shopping addiction and she had a breakdown after she was charged.

Imprisonment would cause hardship for Vunisa, who was caring for her 18-month-old son and elderly mother. Her husband worked full time in the forestry industry, Mrs Millar said.

If she went to jail, her husband would need to leave his job or the child would have to be sent to her husband's home country, Fiji, to be looked after by family, she said.

Vunisa offered a gold necklace to the victims to go towards reparation, which Judge Harrop said would not be appropriate.

Judge Harrop said Vunisa breached the trust of her employer in a "persistent, deliberate and selfish way" with "devastating" effects on the business.

Vunisa was remorseful, but "remorse after one is caught is different than feeling it halfway through and confessing", he said.

Vunisa's offending had created a ripple effect, he said.

"It will affect a number of people in a number of ways for a long period of time. It's not like an assault – this sort of thing can cause enormous stress and that's an ongoing thing," he said.

Judge Harrop said $15,000 was the only "realistic" amount he could order, but the victims could take civil action to recoup the rest.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 11:28 29/09/2010

Child porn youth loses suppression

An 18-year-old Kaikoura youth who had 4000 sexual images of children on his computer lost a bid for final name suppression when was sentenced in the Blenheim District Court yesterday.

Blair James Cleall was sentenced to 12 months' intensive supervision and 125 hours' community work and was ordered to forfeit the computer equipment and images when he appeared on six representative charges of knowingly possessing objectionable material.

Judge Stephen Harrop said allowing Cleall's name to be published had potential to have a significant deterrent effect.

If people were caught, they would be named, the judge said.

There was a strong presumption in favour of naming every defendant and the details of their crimes because of strong public interest, he said.

Defence counsel Laurie Murdoch said lifting the interim name suppression would be an "acute and separate punishment" and Cleall needed to be able to fulfil his intensive supervision and counselling, which could not happen if he was named.

Crown prosecutor Hugh Boyd-Wilson said Cleall made 213 files on February 7 last year with names involving explicitly objectionable material available through a filesharing programme.

An Internal Affairs inspector located and traced the files and user details through an internet service provider. Four thousand objectionable still and video images, text files, PDF files and cartoon images were found on the computer depicting rape, molestation and incest involving girls aged between 3 and 15. Cleall admitted the computer was his and that he started looking for the images when he was 15. Cleall still seemed to be minimising his behaviour, saying he was searching for adult images and didn't understand how damaging they could be, Mr Boyd-Wilson said.

Judge Harrop said the maximum penalty for each charge was five years' jail or a $50,000 fine, which indicated how seriously Parliament and the community viewed the offending.

"It's important to say here that this should not be thought of as victimless offences. The girls are the victims here.

"If no one paid or downloaded the images, they wouldn't be involved in this sort of activity," he said.

The consequences of publishing his name would not be significant enough to outweigh keeping name suppression and Cleall was still held in high regard by his employer, who already knew about the charges, he said.

Judge Harrop agreed with a recommendation for intensive supervision and community work because Cleall "needed rehabilitation rather than out and out punishment".

"Prison would be something the offending justifies, but wouldn't be right for you because you need assistance rather than punishment."

Lifting suppression was a "significant penalty" on its own and was taken into account in the final sentencing, he said.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 11:49 28/09/2010

Teenager admits part in crime spree

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.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 11:50 28/09/2010

Kiss a policeman, off to cells

Giving a police officer a huge kiss on the face after being offered a lift home did not end well for a Blenheim man, who instead got a ride to the police cells.

Constable Michelle Stagg said police were called to Wither Rd at 11.30pm on Saturday after complaints that a party was getting out of control. They found the offender unwilling to leave.

When police offered to take him home, the grateful man grabbed an officer and kissed him on the face, Miss Stagg said. He was promptly arrested for offensive behaviour.

The man's mood turned sour, and he tried to headbutt the officer in the patrol car and kicked him in the shins, she said.

The man also headbutted the perspex screen at a counter at the police station and tried to headbutt a second officer, Miss Stagg said.

She said police found cannabis in the man's pockets.

A 40-year-old unemployed man has been charged with offensive behaviour, assaulting police, resisting arrest and possessing cannabis.

he Marlborough Express

Last updated 11:17 27/09/2010

Judge calls off assault trial

A jury trial for a bus driver accused of indecently assaulting a school girl was abandoned yesterday after the jury lost two members.

The jury sitting in the Blenheim District Court was reduced to 11 on Monday after one juror realised she knew a relative of the complainant. Before the trial resumed yesterday morning, Judge David McKegg said "a matter" had arisen that made it impossible for a second juror to continue and he abandoned the trial.

The accused, aged in his 60s, is alleged to have indecently assaulted a Marlborough Girls' College student on a bus last year.

He cannot be named because it may identify the complainant.

The man was remanded to appear before the court again on November 9 in preparation for a new trial, for which a date has not yet been set. The Marlborough Express

Last updated 11:47 22/09/2010

Seddon dad admits leaving kids in car

A Seddon father who left his two young children in the car for an hour while he went to an appointment has been ordered to do a parenting course by a district court judge.

Marlon Christie, 31, labourer, admitted a charge of leaving a child under the age of 14 without supervision when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday.

Judge Richard Russell said that if Christie completed a parenting course by December, he would be convicted and sentenced only if called upon.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve Frost said Christie drove to an appointment in Blenheim about 1pm on September 9, taking his two children, aged three and four. He left the children in the car and was away for about an hour. A member of the public called the police, and Christie told them he did not think the appointment would last as long as it had.

Defence lawyer Tane Brunt said Christie had an appointment with probation services and no-one else was available to look after the children. He had gone in and out of the office to check on them.

Christie told Judge Russell he "messed up and made a bad judgment" but was doing what he was required to do by probation officers.

Judge Russell said he would prefer to have Christie learn new parenting skills rather than fining him and risking him becoming "lost in the system".Attempted burglaryA Blenheim man who cut himself while trying to break into the Omaka Aerodrome, leaving a trail of blood, admitted a charge of attempted burglary when he appeared in court yesterday.

Seth John Samuels, 28, was granted bail and will reappear for sentencing on November 15.

Mr Frost said Samuels smashed a window while trying to break into a building in Aerodrome Rd on July 20 but cut himself on the glass, leaving blood on the wall below the window. Police tested the blood the next morning.

Samuels told police he had been in Wellington at the time and could not explain how his blood ended up at the scene.

Judge Russell said Samuels had just been released from prison. He called for a pre-sentence report and an alcohol and drug report.Car confiscatedA Blenheim man caught driving with almost twice the legal breath alcohol limit had his car confiscated when he appeared in court yesterday.

Hamish Kent Wilson, 31, admitted driving with excess breath alcohol, driving while forbidden and careless driving, and will be sentenced on November 15.

Mr Frost said Wilson was driving in Grovetown about 7.30pm on September 12, and stopped for food on the way home from a friend's house. He had drunk about 15 beers.

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Wilson became distracted and swerved to miss a van, hitting a car parked on a grass verge, Mr Frost said. Both cars were extensively damaged.

Wilson recorded a breath alcohol level of 743 micrograms (legal limit 400mcg) and did not hold a licence.Sentencing delayedThe sentencing of a Blenheim man after a hit-and-run accident was delayed yesterday because of a Probation Office error. Clifford Brent Markland, 55, beneficiary, was to be sentenced on charges of driving dangerously causing injury and failing to stop after an accident involving injury, but the Probation Office had not completed the necessary reports.

The charges were laid after an accident on the Weld Pass on May 16, in which a 37-year-old Christchurch man was seriously injured.

Markland was remanded on bail and will be sentenced on October 27.Girl followedAn Iraqi man who followed a Marlborough Girls' College student to school told the judge yesterday he was not a danger to the community.

Sabah Ali Mahmoud, 38, was sentenced to 80 hours' community work and 12 months' supervision and given a final warning on two charges of following the girl, knowing his conduct would cause her to fear for her safety.

Judge Russell said Mahmoud struck up a conversation with the 15-year-old student on her usual route to school on July 15. He said later she had "taken his heart" and he had dreamed about her.

On another occasion, Mahmoud tried to have a conversation with the girl as she passed his house, and followed her until she got to school.

The next day, Mahmoud drove alongside the girl until she crossed the footbridge over the Taylor River.

Mahmoud's pre-sentence report said he thought the girl was 16, and he did not mean her any harm, Judge Russell said.

"Even if she was 16, there is still more than 20 years' age difference. People are entitled to have their children go to and from school safely," he said.

"There was no excuse, even on cultural grounds."

Parenting course ordered

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:47 21/09/2010

Violent robbery earns teen first strike

A Blenheim teenager has a strike against his name under the new "three strikes" legislation after he attacked and robbed another man and ordered him to strip naked.

Jake Anthony Tapp, 18, labourer, admitted a charge of robbery when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday. He was remanded on bail for sentencing on November 15.

Judge Richard Russell said the conviction would be a strike offence under the new "three strikes" legislation. Tapp's age was the only thing that saved him from being remanded in custody, he said.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve Frost said Tapp had been drinking at his home on September 10, and about 9.30pm he asked two female friends to set up a meeting with the victim, who he had gone to school with. Tapp wanted to confront him about them getting into trouble several years earlier for stealing Tapp's father's car.

Before meeting the victim, Tapp changed into a camouflage shirt and pants, heavy boots and a balaclava so he would not be recognised, Mr Frost said.

The female friends met the victim near Nelson St while Tapp and two other friends waited about 50 metres away, Mr Frost said. Tapp followed the group as they walked towards Bohally Intermediate School, pulling down his balaclava as they walked across the playing fields.

Tapp pushed the victim into a fence and began punching him in the head, telling him to do as he was told or his throat would be cut.

The victim's head was bashed against a tree, Mr Frost said.

Tapp punched the victim in the face, ordered him to empty his pockets and took his bag, throwing it to the girls, who were standing close by.

Tapp then told the victim to strip, and beat him around the head and body when he objected, Mr Frost said.

Tapp went behind the victim as he was taking off his pants, wrapped his legs and arms around his body and neck and squeezed for about 10 seconds. The attack stopped only when one of Tapp's friends intervened, which gave the victim time to escape to a nearby house and call the police, Mr Frost said.

The victim suffered cuts and abrasions to his face and body and bruised ribs.

Police found Tapp in his car with the balaclava and some of the victim's property.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:48 21/09/2010

Man refuses alcohol tests

A man who police say was seen by a member of the public driving around with a large bottle of bourbon in his car will appear in court today for refusing to let the police test him for alcohol.

Constable Michelle Stagg, of Blenheim, said a member of the public saw the man driving erratically through Spring Creek Holiday Park on Rapaura Rd at 7.30am on Friday. Noticing the bottle of bourbon, he tried to remove the car keys from the driver, but could not and called the police, Miss Stagg said. The driver refused to do a breath test and then refused to give a sample of blood to be tested for alcohol.

A 32-year-old male factory worker was charged with refusing an officer's request for blood and was to appear in the Blenheim District Court today.

In a separate incident, a 50-year-old man was charged with driving with excess breath alcohol after he was stopped in Colemans Rd, Springlands, at 8.50pm on Saturday. The man's breath test showed 653 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, Miss Stagg said. The legal adult limit is 400mcg.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:46 20/09/2010

Knife-threat arrest

An argument between two Blenheim flatmates turned nasty when one threatened to stab the other with a hunting knife on Saturday, police say.

Constable Michelle Stagg, of Blenheim, said one of the men allegedly threatened to stab the victim while waving the knife in their Redwood St flat.

A 46-year-old vineyard worker was arrested at 9pm for possessing an offensive weapon and threatening to cause grievous bodily harm. He was held in police custody to appear in the Blenheim District Court today.

Also on Saturday, a 15-year-old male student was arrested after allegedly punching a 17-year-old male in the face on Nelson St, Blenheim. The student fled and was found soon after by a police dog team on nearby John St, where he was arrested at 10.25pm after a short struggle, Miss Stagg said.

He was charged with assault and resisting arrest.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:47 20/09/2010

`High' wind hits school

A sudden change in the wind is being blamed for cannabis smoke wafting across the grounds of a Picton primary school.

St Joseph's School principal Peter Knowles noticed smoke coming from the Picton police station on Friday morning while the children were in class.

He and a member of the school board went to the station about 200 metres away and police put the fire out immediately, he said.

The incident was "very unusual and out of the blue" and he did not know whether the smoke smelled of cannabis, he said.

Senior Sergeant Peter Payne, of Picton, said shredded paper and a small amount of cannabis were being burned in the incinerator at the station when the direction of the wind changed unexpectedly.

When the fire was lit the smoke was blowing in a direction where there were no houses or people; the amount of paper burned was significantly more than the amount of cannabis, he said.

A concerned parent who called The Marlborough Express had never heard of police burning cannabis and was worried about children at the school.

Sergeant Payne said the incinerator at the station was quite small and large amounts of cannabis were usually burned in a commercial furnace.

"A big gust just came and took it [the smoke] in a different direction. It can't be helped, it's just an act of nature," he said.

By Simon Wong - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 11:35 20/09/2010

Fears for children getting off buses

It is only a matter of time until Marlborough children who catch a school bus are seriously injured if cars continue to speed past them, according to a bus company manager.

Ritchies manager Greg Jowers said few cars drove past school buses dropping off children at the required 20kmh.

He had not seen any accidents in his seven years as manager, but he said there had been some close calls.

"We've been pretty fortunate that, from memory, no-one has been hurt in Marlborough from stepping off the bus," he said.

However, the law of averages meant something would happen eventually, he said.

A 12-year-old Nelson boy was seriously injured and taken to Nelson Hospital after he was hit by a four-wheel-drive after stepping off a school bus.

Grovetown School principal Selena Tonks was especially aware of the speed of cars driving past the school, because it was in a rural area.

The school was in a 50kmh residential area, but this quickly changed to 80kmh, she said.

There was "no chance" of drivers sticking to the required 20kmh, she said. The ingredients for an accident were there.

Parent Mandy Macfarlane said it was "amazing" how fast cars, and even tractors, were going when they went past the school.

Children were unpredictable and could shoot out from in front of the bus at any time, she said.

Mr Jowers said the bus company was responsible for children from the time they got on the bus to the time they got off. The drivers were trained to be aware of their surroundings and to use several safety measures, including using their hazard lights when stopping and to have the school sign showing only when there were children on board to avoid any confusion for drivers, he said.

"We [Ritchies] are doing what we can [to keep the pupils safe], but it would be nice to see drivers slow down," he said.

Police did not have enough resources to effectively enforce the legal speed limit when passing school buses, he said.

North Canterbury mother Lucinda Rees has started a campaign for a national speed limit of 40kmh around schools and for the better warning of school buses.

By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 31/08/2010

DEREK FLYNN

TOO QUICK: Grovetown School principal Selena Tonks is concerned about vehicles speeding past as the school bus picks up and drops off students.

Children's Facebook use concerns

Two Marlborough primary school principals are worried some of their pupils have signed up to social networking site Facebook.

Both Havelock and Blenheim School reminded parents in their latest newsletters that the site had an age restriction of 13, and there were potential risks for young people on such sites.

Havelock School principal Chris Duckworth found some of his older pupils when he was on the website a few weeks ago and was able to see some of their personal information.

Mr Duckworth was worried the children had not set appropriate privacy settings on their profiles and urged parents to either remove their child's profile from the site or check their page.

Havelock School blocked access to Facebook on its computers, he said.

The site was good for keeping in touch with family and friends, but was not a site aimed at children. Young children could easily be "sucked in" by older people, he said.

Blenheim School principal Dina Ahradsen was aware some of her students had joined Facebook, but was not against young children being on the site if monitored by their parents.

Some parents may have signed their children up for the site without being aware of the potential dangers, she said.

"It's a huge, big wide world they're stepping into ... it can be quite dangerous," she said.

"I'm not against families doing what they think is appropriate, but I would like to remind parents to be proactive."

Netsafe executive director Martin Cocker said he understood why children would sign up to Facebook, but did not think it was a good idea.

It was easy for children to lie about their age when signing up to websites, he said.

"Age verification is not successfully done anywhere on the web. Many young people have the ability to lie about their age," he said.

The risks for children on the site were the same as any situation where children were placed in an adult environment, he said.

"There are plenty of people who will mean harm to them," he said.

Netsafe's website says Facebook's code of conduct protects users from sexual content, harassment and unwanted contact as well as other offensive acts. Guidelines on how to deal with such abuse can be found at netsafe.org.nz.

By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 02/09/2010

Teen given three-year jail term

At the age of 19 she has battled drug addiction, associated with gang members and spent time in prison, but the support of her family and friends could not save her from another stretch behind bars.

Chloe Pascale Ingersoll was sent to prison for three years and two months when she appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday for aggravated burglary and supplying iodine – an important ingredient in the manufacture of P.

Defence counsel Rob Harrison spoke of a woman who began associating with the wrong kinds of people from a young age and whose offending was a result of learned behaviour from those she mixed with.

Her criminal behaviour stemmed from a lifestyle of drug use and drug addiction, but she had tried to shake the habit, he said.

"It's not just about waving a magic wand [to get rid of the addiction]," he said.

Ingersoll was charged with supplying material to make methamphetamine after police became aware of an operation in Blenheim to produce the class A drug.

Ingersoll and several other women were encouraged by an associate of the manufacturer to buy some of the readily available ingredients, Mr Harrison said.

Progress had been made to wean her addiction and her parents were hopeful, he said, adding that he had also noticed a physical change in Ingersoll.

Crown prosecutor Mike Turner said Ingersoll had been on bail awaiting sentence for supplying iodine when she and a friend had gone to the home of another woman believed to be involved in breaking up a friend's relationship. Ingersoll took an iron bar hidden up her sleeve.

Disguised in a hooded sweatshirt, scarf and dark glasses, Ingersoll went into the house and beat the woman with the metal bar, hitting the victim around her arms and knees about 10 times and punching her in the head and face. The victim also needed medical attention for a laceration to her head, Mr Turner said.

The attack was premeditated and lasted several minutes. It stopped only when the co-accused intervened, he said.

Ingersoll had driven past the victim's house, turned the car around and parked about 50 metres away – a move designed for a quick getaway, he said.

Mr Harrison called the incident "bizarre", almost with a schoolyard feel to it.

It was a show of immaturity overlaid with learned behaviour from the environment she had been in, he said.

Judge Stephen Harrop said Ingersoll had a good upbringing but also suffered a drug dependency that made it hard for her to get out of the system.

"It's distressing and sad and you deserve a great deal of sympathy," he said. "The thing you need most is help rather than punishment, but I'm not here to sentence you based on who you are, but rather what you've done." By Simon Wong - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 11:27 09/09/2010

Schools fundraise for quake relief

Marlborough school children are digging deep to help raise money for earthquake stricken Canterbury.

Riverlands School wrote a cheque for $1000 on Friday after a mufti day and fundraising day to raise money for St Paul's School in Christchurch.

Riverlands School principal Dave Parsons said one of his teachers had a sister who was on the board of trustees at St Paul's.

The Christchurch school was extensively damaged and would probably not open until the start of next term, unlike other schools, which would open today, Mr Parsons said. The senior children of Riverlands School organised the event and wrote letters to some of the children in Christchurch, he said.

Tua Marina School children dressed in Canterbury colours on Friday and raised about $150 for the cause.

Principal Cheryl Wadworth said the pupils asked what they could do to help and were taught how to prepare for a natural disaster.

Wairau Valley School principal Charlotte Whitlow, who used to be principal at Windwhistle School in Canterbury, said her school raised about $50 that would be donated to the Salvation Army in Christchurch.

Fairhall School and Grovetown School have fundraising events in the pipeline this week.

Blenheim School has planned a Pyjama Disco next week, with the proceeds going toward the relief fund.

Spring Creek School principal Andrew McFarlane said his school was holding a jump-rope fundraiser this week

By Simon Wong - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 10:11 13/09/2010

Japanese visitors sample Kiwi life

They come from opposite sides of the world, but for the next three months Summer Gleeson and Seina Ito will be living together in Blenheim as sisters.

Seventeen-year-old Seina is one of a group of 15 students from Tezukayama Gakuin, a senior high school in Osaka, Japan. She will spend the next three months studying at Marlborough Girls' College.

The girls will live with host families for the exchange, which was initiated with the school in Japan last year. It means the students can experience the Kiwi lifestyle.

Summer will be her host sister until the group returns to Japan on November 26.

Seina has only left Japan twice – an English language trip to Canada and a family holiday in Italy – and the three-month stint in New Zealand will be her longest time away from her home and family.

Girls' College director of international students Chris Bamber said the focus for the trip is to both improve the girls' English language skills and to provide experience of life in New Zealand.

"They really want to find Kiwi buddies, they don't really want to stick together [with other girls from the school]," she said.

The group spent some time in Picton on Monday and also met Mayor Alistair Sowman, which was a big deal for them, she said.

The teachers from the school arrived with the students on Sunday morning and will stay for about 10 days to make sure the girls settle into their new lives.

Summer, 14, said her older sister was learning Japanese and her family had hosted students from Japan before.

The family was determined to give Seina the best experience they could, she said.

Besides improving her English, Seina said she looked forward to learning about the Maori culture, sightseeing and shopping.

By Simon Wong - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 11:33 10/09/2010

New sisters: Japanese exchange student Seina Ito, left, and Marlborough Girls' College student Summer Gleeson will be living together as sisters for the next three months. Seina often uses her English-Japanese translator to help her improve her English skills.

Spike in repeat offenders

Anti drink-drive message ignored

By Simon Wong and Maike van der Heide - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 11:44 10/09/2010

Police are dealing with a "lost generation" who ignore anti drink-driving messages, as the number of people under 30 convicted of repeat drink-driving in Marlborough increased threefold in the past five years.

Twenty-one Marlborough people aged 17 to 29 were convicted on their second or subsequent drink-driving offence in 2005, and 59 were convicted on the same charge in 2009.

Marlborough's acting area commander, Senior Sergeant Ciaran Sloan, said the message clearly was not getting through to this age group.

"It is a worry that the message is not getting through and it appears to be a lost generation as far as the anti drink-drive campaign goes."

Acting Senior Sergeant Tony Yardley, of Blenheim, said the increase in offending was not good, but said the number of people being arrested for drink-driving had dropped significantly in Marlborough in the last few months.

This was partly due to increased enforcement and a change in drivers' attitudes, he said.

Those in the 20-29 age bracket were among the worst repeat offenders in terms of the number of convictions and also in the top three highest breath and blood alcohol readings last year. Population data from Statistics New Zealand show people aged 20 to 29 make up about 9 per cent of Marlborough's total population, but in 2009 they accounted for 41 per cent of second or subsequent drink-driving convictions in court in Blenheim.

It is difficult to blame an increase in population on the rise in convictions, as the population data available shows the number of people in their 20s in Marlborough increased just 220 from 4250 in 2006 to 4470 in 2009.

The Ministry of Justice released the data to The Marlborough Express under the Official Information Act.

The numbers were gathered based on those convicted on their second or more drink-driving offence and the same offender would be counted multiple times if convicted within the same calendar year.

Cases from the Blenheim District Court, the High Court at Blenheim and Youth Courts were used to define the number of offences in Marlborough.

The statistics come as New Zealand police prepare to join forces with their Australian counterparts in a 12-hour operation to fight alcohol-related crime.

Police, Maori wardens, community patrols, health agencies and other interest groups will target drink-drivers and underage drinkers and conduct spot checks at licensed premises nationwide.

Named Operation Unite, the campaign was an opportunity for police to "show a united stance and keep alcohol-related issues in the public eye", specialist operations acting assistant commissioner Win Van der Velde said.

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All alcohol-related offenders would be given a wallet-sized card with the Alcohol and Drug Association's helpline number, Mr Van der Velde said.

Marlborough members of Students Against Driving Drunk (SADD) worked alongside the police at a checkpoint last week and would do so again tonight.

Their involvement was a "positive sign", Mr Sloan said.

"They're active in that area, and it's good to see because [police are] not the only agency that deals with it."

Mr Yardley said such initiatives made a big difference to young people.

From 7.30pm to midnight tonight, Marlborough's sober drivers can expect rewards in the form of lollipops, stickers and safety tips from SADD members.

SADD representative Tymara Oberdries, a Marlborough Girls' College student, said positive affirmation for safe drivers was the objective of the operation.

Last week, drivers' responses were friendly as they did not expect a reward and the operation put police in a different, positive perspective too, Miss Oberdries said.

Surprise finding in science fair

An uncommon and potentially harmful bacteria was found in a drinking fountain by two Bohally Intermediate School pupils as part of their school science fair.

Students Lucy Blakiston and Laura Murphy were interested in the kinds of bacteria in their school and were surprised to find Klebsiella in a drinking fountain.

The bacteria affects people with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, and those infected generally suffer fever and flu-like symptoms.

Lucy, 12, and Laura, 13, were yesterday awarded overall first equal with another pupil, Joe Collier, in the school's science and technology fair.

Lucy said the pair swabbed four areas around the school – a classroom door knob, a towel rail, a toilet seat and a drinking fountain.

The girls grew the bacteria in petrie dishes, which they left to grow in a hot water cupboard for three days. Three of the samples taken showed no significant bacteria, but the swab from the drinking fountain grew so much bacteria they put the petrie dish in the refrigerator to stop the growth.

Laura said the bacteria was sent to a laboratory to be identified, and a microbiologist confirmed the finding and provided information about the effects of the bacteria.

Principal Brian Tuffey said all fountains in the school had been cleaned and disinfected since the girls' discovery and will also be routinely checked.

The girls may be asked to repeat the experiment next term, he said.

Fellow winner Joe Collier, 12, experimented with diabetes and blood sugar levels.

Joe, a Type 1 diabetic, noticed his blood sugar levels were dropping during the night and experimented with ways to keep the levels constant.

Taking protein out of his dinner, on average, kept his blood sugar levels close to where they should be at night.

All placegetters at the Bohally fair will be entered in the Marlborough Lines Science and Technology Fair in Blenheim next Tuesday.

By Simon Wong - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 11:53 16/09/2010

DEREK FLYNN

Icky find: Bohally Intermediate pupils Lucy Blakiston, left, and Laura Murphy found a potentially harmful bacteria on a drinking fountain when they tested it as part of a science fair project. The pair won overall first equal at the science fair, along with another pupil, Joe Collier.

Teachers aim to escalate protest action

Seventy teachers protest in Blenheim's Market Place

By Simon Wong and Fairfax - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 11:43 16/09/2010

Striking teachers plan to escalate protest action if their demands are not met, by refusing to teach entire year levels of pupils on certain days.

It would force thousands of children at particular grades to stay at home intermittently from next term, just weeks before their final examinations.

There are also calls for teachers to prepare for further strikes and other forms of protest action as their union flexes its muscle in a worsening industrial standoff with the Government.

But Education Minister Anne Tolley warns that senior pupils studying towards the National Certificate of Educational Achievement will be disadvantaged by further industrial action, putting assessment results at risk.

About 70 teachers from Marlborough Boys' College, Marlborough Girls' College and Queen Charlotte College and students gathered in Market Place, Blenheim, yesterday wearing black and red badges and waving PPTA flags to deliver a letter to Kaikoura MP Colin King, who was not in his Blenheim office.

The ministry had suspended striking teachers for the day and Marlborough PPTA representatives Peter Kemp and Dan Searle thanked those who chose to strike for giving up a day's pay.

The suspension was a spiteful move by the ministry and meant striking teachers who went back to school to mark work would technically be trespassing, Mr Kemp said.

PPTA teachers voted to strike last month, after opting to stop pay and contract talks with the Ministry of Education.

They want a 4 per cent pay rise, while the Government is offering 1.5 per cent, plus 1 per cent a year after settlement.

They are also seeking a raft of condition changes, including laptops, caps on class sizes, more professional development, an extra 1 per cent KiwiSaver employer contribution, and immunisation against contagious diseases.

Mr Kemp said the pay rise they sought met the expected level of inflation over the next two years.

The Government agreed to cap class sizes, but only if no extra cost was involved, he said.

Marlborough young and new teacher network representative Claire van Boxel said the conditions sought by the PPTA were aimed at staff retention and improving the quality of teaching and would benefit both students and teachers.

Ms Tolley said the strike achieved "nothing other than disruption". She urged the union to return to the bargaining table.

Further strikes or rostering home of entire year levels would cause huge unrest and uncertainty for pupils, she said.

"It could affect their NCEA assessment and exams. They become the victims in all this."

Students spoken to at the rally in Blenheim supported their teachers and the action of the PPTA.

Boys' college student Matt Threadwell said students' learning would be "hindered" if teachers were unhappy.

"If the teachers are unhappy, they won't be able to teach us to the best of their ability," he said.

Boys' college student Isaac Hales said smaller class numbers would mean more one-on-one time with teachers, especially in art subjects where teacher input was important.

Canterbury's 1800 PPTA members were exempted from yesterday's strike because of the September 4 earthquake.

It was the first PPTA strike in eight years.

Take turns, it's sporting

In a school hall modestly adorned with Maori koru patterns and serving as a shrine to past high achievers, friends and family gathered to welcome a new batch of Marlborough Girls' College students into the annals of the school's history.

The college celebrated their highest cultural and sporting achievers last night in their annual prizegiving, held at the college.

The biggest winners, Georgia Hammond and Megan Craig, experienced a moment of deja vu when both were named sportswoman of the year for the second year running. Megan picked up the award for the third consecutive year.

The problem of one trophy and two winners was easily solved – Megan would take the trophy for the year, because Georgia held it last year.

By Simon Wong - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 11:28 17/09/2010

Walking proud: Marlborough Girls' College students, Georgia Hammond and Megan Craig, who were jointly awarded sportswoman of the year

Cultural achiever of the year was awarded to Lily Harvey, for her involvement in the Sheilah Winn National Festival of Shakespeare and for being one of a select few throughout the country chosen to perform at the Globe Theatre in London this year.

Cultural group of the year went to choir Bella Voce, who, in August, won a silver award at the Big Sing competition in Auckland.

The guest speaker, Kiwi musician Monique Rhodes, spoke to the girls and the proud audience about her experiences singing for the Dalai Lama and Carla Bruni, wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Being prepared to fail in order to be extraordinary is what sets people apart as champions, she said.

"When you get up on stage and perform, you have a choice to make – you can get up and give a good performance without taking any risks, or you can take the chance to make it an extraordinary performance and go for a few notes you might not reach," she said.

Girls' College teacher Sione Niupalau acknowledged the work of parents and supporters in the achievements of the girls.

"They [the girls] didn't get here alone; they got here by your work as well as theirs," he said.

Awards list

Merchant navy veterans look back

The day was June 8, 1946. England was still in the throes of celebration after the Allied victory over the Germans and the Japanese and the end of World War II.

It would be a day Blenheim man and New Zealand merchant navy deck hand Jim McArtney would never forget.

He worked on board the NZHS Maunganui which left Wellington in April 1946 carrying soldiers on a five-week journey to England to take part in the victory parade in London.

The town was filled with scenes of jubilation even though food was still being rationed; the parade featured the most people he had ever seen in one place, he said.

Mr McArtney, a lifetime Blenheim resident, was one of eight merchant navy sailors in Marlborough who gathered at Clubs Marlborough to commemorate the country's first official Merchant Navy Day on Friday.

The day is commemorated on September 3 and is the date the first British merchant navy ship was sunk by a German U-boat northwest of Ireland in 1939.

Organiser of the Blenheim event, Tony Lester, said the official recognition was a long time coming and the merchant navy was not largely recognised as an armed force by the Returned and Services' Association. Mr McArtney, who was 15 at the time he joined, always dreamed of going to sea and lied about his age on documents to meet the 16-year age restriction to join the merchant navy. He worked on two ships sailing around Australia and New Zealand, mostly carrying cargo and munitions, for nine months before the war ended but stayed on with the merchant navy for a few more years afterward.

His Norwegian neighbour suggested he join the merchant navy so he could leave whenever he wanted, but "I never did [want to leave]".

Mr Lester said the group had decided to meet informally, but would form a regional association if more members of the merchant navy showed an interest.

By Simon Wong - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:02 06/09/2010

World of felting opens for Mayfield pupils

The children of Mayfield School rolled up their sleeves and opened their minds to the world of felting at the Millenium Art Gallery yesterday.

Two classes from the school attended a workshop at the art gallery as part of the month-long felting exhibition Earthwaulks.

Students Thomas Cross and Blake Patterson, both 10, had not seen or worked with felt before but said it was easy to get the hang of it.

The process of felting involves wetting differently dyed wool with detergent and hot water, then compressing it as much as possible and squeezing the liquid out.

Christine Marks, exhibition convener and member of felting group Aotearoa Felters, said the exhibition of work from felters across the world and the workshop showed the children the potential of felt.

The exhibition includes dresses, a tea cosy, hats and dolls all made of felt.

Felting was experiencing a "resurgence" because there was shift away from a throw-away society and an increasing interest in natural products, she said.

"People just don't realise what you can do with it [felt] – they just think of it as a craft, but it's an art form," she said.

Mayfield School teacher Heather Stenhouse said the workshop was a chance for both the teachers and students to learn about felting and it fits in well with the school's art programme.

The Earthwaulks exhibition closes on October 3.

By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 03/09/2010

A national speed limit of 40kmh outside all schools is a "no brainer", according to a Blenheim principal who helped champion a lowered speed limit outside his school.

Former Fairhall school principal and Renwick School principal Simon Heath said the behaviour of drivers changed the moment the 40kmh signs on either side of Fairhall School were switched on in 2003 after a six-year battle.

A North Canterbury mother's campaign for a national speed limit outside schools is gaining momentum throughout the country and Mr Heath said the decision to do that is simple.

"To me it's a no-brainer. It [40kmh speed limit] should be in any school on the open road and throughout the country," he said.

The speed limit on Hammerichs Rd by Rapaura School was also lowered from 80kmh to 70kmh in 2008 after a lengthy process with the Marlborough District Council.

However, Principal Helen Williams said despite the reduction in the speed limit, she would like it to be even less.

"It's not enough of a drop – I'd like it to be 40kmh for sake of the safety of our children. It's highly important for us," she said.

The area was often busy with trucks from wineries and sawmills as well as general traffic travelling at speed but safety measures had been put in place around the school including raised traffic islands, she said.

Fairhall School principal Steve Crockett said the signs are switched on manually half-an-hour on either side of school hours.

The signs were "reasonably effective" and he could tell by the speed of the cars whether the signs were off, he said.

Selwyn District Council, just outside Christchurch, last week approved a plan to lower speed limits from 100kmh to 50kmh 250 metres either side of seven of its rural schools.

However, this did not include two schools on state highways.

Selwyn District Council transport and road safety co-ordinator Lee Wright said the next step would be a consultation process with the community, and organisations including police and the AA.

The roads outside the seven schools were mainly used by locals and parents and the five year process was started by a petition which gained 4000 signatures of a population of 34,000, she said.

Marlborough Mayor Alistair Sowman said he was not aware of the Selwyn District Council's plan but would keep an eye on its progress.

He would look at any initiatives which improved safety, he said.

Call for 40kmh limits

By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 03/09/2010

SIMON WONG

NO SPEED ZONE: Fairhall School students Oliver Cowley and Grace Tripe, both 10, watch for cars on New Renwick Rd. The 40kmh speed signs outside the school are an effective reminder for cars to slow down

Man admits vicious attack

A Kaikoura man facing a charge of intent to injure after he hit another man in the head with a log splitter admitted the charge minutes before his second jury trial on the same charge was about to begin.

Jonathan George Willis, 30, pleaded guilty at the Blenheim District Court in the eleventh hour, before his jury trial was to begin on August 16.

Willis was remanded on bail and will be sentenced in the Blenheim District Court on September 23. The plea came as the jury for Willis' second trial was still being chosen.

In April, another jury was unable to decide a verdict after a 2 1/2 day trial and about 10 hours of deliberation.

Willis was charged after Brian "Joe" Corke, also of Kaikoura, claimed he was hit with the log splitter on the right side of his head. Mr Corke was left with a fractured skull and could not work for a year.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 01/09/2010