A Te Puna man who was armed with a fence paling in each hand when he assaulted a police officer attending a domestic incident in October has escaped conviction on medical grounds.
The man was charged with assault with a weapon, resisting arrest and wilful damage, and assault on police.
But in Tauranga District Court last week, his lawyer Ani Attwood successfully bid for a discharge without conviction and permanent name suppression, arguing the consequences of a conviction outweighed the gravity of the offences filing medical reports and an affidavit in support.
Judge Thomas Ingram said he had no doubt publication of the man's name would impact on his rehabilitation and also result in his employment being placed in jeopardy and the man's culpability outweighed the public interest. Judge Ingram permanently suppressed where the incident occurred and the man's occupation and place of employment.
Assault from bikeA Pyes Pa man repeatedly punched a car passenger about the head then the following day smashed his way into a garage with a pitchfork and stole a $4000 mountainbike.
Unemployed Kevin Cave, 18, admitted in Tauranga District Court one charge each of assault with intent to injure, robbery and sustained loss of traction. He was remanded on bail pending sentence on March 16.
The court was told that about 9.30pm on November 6 Cave punched a car passenger as he cycled past the vehicle on Cameron Rd.
The injured man yelled out to the driver to reverse otherwise the assault may have continued.
A day later Cave - who was with two Mongrel Mob members - smashed his way into a garage.
The sustained loss of traction charge relates to an incident on October 29 in Chadwick Rd when Cave was caught drifting his car sideways.
Jail for possessionA student caught with 15 tinnies at his Judea home had a tick list with the names of 30-40 people who owed him for previous cannabis sales.
Rikki Herewini Smith - who was nabbed after police were tipped off - was sentenced in Tauranga District Court to five months in jail.
Police executed a search warrant at Smith's Solomon St home about 7.40am on November 25.
They found Smith, 19, in bed in one of the bedrooms.
Under the bed was 40g of dry cannabis head material in a plastic bag.
In a shoebox in the wardrobe were 15 cannabis tinnies weighing about 11.63g.
Underneath a cushion in his bedroom was a tick list detailing names and accompanying figures.
Smith pleaded guilty in court to one charge each of possession of cannabis for supply and supplying cannabis and a breach of community work.
