Like father, like son in West Coast court

File photo / NZ Herald

It was a case of like father, like son when Connor John Prendergast quickly followed his father Michael from the Greymouth District Court yesterday, both on their way to Christchurch Men's Prison.

Michael Prendergast, 49, of Cobden, was sentenced to two months in prison for refusing to complete a community work sentence.

He had been sentenced in October to 60 hours' community work but told the probation officer he had no intention of even starting it.

When Judge Stephen O'Driscoll said to him yesterday, "So, what do you think Mr Prendergast ... two months?" he replied, "What? Two months for just 60 hours' community work? A bit less would be better."

"Not with your previous convictions," the judge said.

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Minutes later, Connor John Prendergast, 21, appeared on disorderly behaviour charges and told the judge that, like his father, he had an aversion to community work sentences and would not report to the work centre if he was ordered.

On December 10, Prendergast the younger threw rocks on a neighbour's roof, and the following day as police were speaking to him about riding a bike without a helmet, he rode off, yelling "f.. you, f.., f.., f..", while several children were within hearing distance.

On December 13, he was again throwing rocks, this time at a car on his neighbour's property.

"Mr Prendergast junior seems to be following in the footsteps of his father," probation officer Kerry Aston told the judge yesterday.

"He has no intention of doing community-based sentences."

When Judge O'Driscoll asked what he had to say for himself, Prendergast junior said: "Nothin' - send me to prison."

The judge obliged with a sentence of two months.