A French national is in custody awaiting deportation after he admitted breaching security at Tauranga Airport and assaulting two police constables.
Magloire Ndabagera, 20, who appeared in the District Court at Tauranga on May 22, was convicted and discharged after he pleaded guilty to two sets of charges.
That is one charge each of unlawfully being found in an enclosed yard or area and trespass under the Civil Aviation Act, and two charges of assault on police.
The police summary of facts revealed that about 4am on May 17 the defendant climbed over a signposted barbed wire security fence at Tauranga Airport in Aerodrome Rd.
Security footage showed Ndabagera walking onto the secure tarmac area where three Air New Zealand Q300 planes were parked.
He then walked around one plane several times and loitered around the wheel assembly. He ran off after a security guard confronted him.
Ndabagera made his way to the terminal building and escaped out into the front car park. Someone found his wallet and passport during a search near the plane.
The defendant told police he had been looking for his cellphone, wallet and passport which had been stolen.
The two assault on police charges related to his actions while in the cells at Tauranga Police Station on May 20.
Ndabagera grabbed a female constable's body armour vest and torch and refused to give it back.
Holding the torch in his right hand, he made punching moves towards the officer with his other hand, and took up a fighting stance, the summary said.
Ndabagera tried to punch a male constable in the face before he threw another punch which connected with the victim's right shoulder.
The officers tried to restrain him, and when the first constable went to handcuff him, Ndabagera kicked out several times striking her lower legs.
The defendant refused to co-operate and had to be forced back in his cell.
Lawyer Tony Rickard-Simms told Judge Paul Mabey QC his client was a French national on a visitor's visa and had been looking for a place to stay.
Mr Rickard-Simms said the Immigration Service has served Ndabagera with a deportation notice and he was due to leave the country by the end of the week.
Judge Mabey, who convicted and discharged the defendant on all four charges, further remanded him in custody pending his deportation.