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NAPIER - A Napier teenager dubbed "the Piddler on the Roof" after being caught on security camera urinating into a pay and park meter claimed today he only did it once and has learned a very public lesson.
Sarron John Malot, a chef, was refused name suppression when he pleaded guilty in Napier District Court today to a charge of intentionally damaging the meter in a Napier City Council-owned parking building on July 5.
Malot was offered diversion by police but must pay $200 to the council.
Duty solicitor Leo Lafferty sought name suppression but because Malot appeared in open court, rather than on the registrar's list, Judge Geoff Reay declined the application. Provided Malot completed diversion, he would not have to appear again.
Outside the courtroom, Malot insisted to reporters that he had only urinated once on the parking meter, despite a council spokesman saying earlier this month that it had been doused four or five times in the past year.
He said he had been out with friends and wanted to urinate. When they wouldn't let him urinate against their car, he chose the parking machine instead.
"I was not aware of what I was doing," he said.
Malot said today he had not been deliberately aiming at the machine but "couldn't stand properly".
Police dubbed him The Piddler on the Roof because of the second-floor location of the meter and in a statement said: "He pees up in the air in a big arc, so it goes in the coin slot and out the hole where people collect their tickets".
His family had been supportive and he accepted he had done a stupid act but he did not want to be known forever as The Piddler on the Roof.
"I'd like to say I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do it.
"But who hasn't pissed in public?"
- NZPA
