Abusing couple lands driver a fine

Shouting abuse at a couple from his car has landed a 25-year-old Bay man in Tauranga District Court.
Mount Maunganui's Joseph Lewis Ratu was yesterday disqualified from driving for 15 months and ordered to pay $400 in reparation, plus court costs of $130, on one charge of using threatening language and two charges of driving while suspended. He pleaded guilty to each of the charges.
Sergeant Ross McFarland told the court that at 5.15pm on May 1, an unemployed Ratu was observed speeding down Sutherland Avenue by a Mount Maunganui couple.
After gesturing for him to slow down, the husband and wife were treated to a torrent of verbal abuse, as Ratu swore and yelled at them from his car.
Becoming agitated, Ratu then exited his vehicle and confronted the man and woman - continuing to scream expletives at them.
One month later, Joseph was again caught driving while suspended after he was stopped by police for failing to wear a seatbelt.
Judge Ian Thomas said Ratu, who was disqualified from driving for six months on the first charge and nine months for the second, had put the couple through an "abusive and terrible" ordeal.
"It really shouldn't have happened, nobody should have to put up with that nonsense." TRADEME CHEAT: Using a popular internet auction site to cheat bargain-hunters out of more than $2000 has come at a high cost for Tauranga's Kalum Geoffrey Pritchard.
The 22-year-old baker was yesterday sentenced to nine months behind bars, and ordered to pay $2250 reparation, on five charges of intentionally accessing a computer for a dishonest purpose, three each of theft and interfering with a motor vehicle, and one further charge of theft from a car. He had pleaded guilty.
Tauranga District Court heard that between May 1 and July 8, Pritchard logged onto the popular internet website TradeMe, from a Wellington internet cafe.
Pritchard advertised five times and exchanged money with buyers for fictitious items, including a Compaq laptop, X-Box and cellphone.
Once the money, which totalled $2205, was deposited into his account, Pritchard ceased all communication with the buyers.
Again, in late May, Pritchard entered three local service stations and filled his car with petrol - but failed to pay for it.
On February 6, he set upon another crime spree, breaking windows with the intention of gaining access to three cars.
Ten days later, the young man again smashed a car window, this time fleeing the scene with a small number of personal effects.
Defence lawyer Craig Tuck said while Pritchard's actions were based on the need to line his pockets.
Judge Christopher Harding said Pritchard's desire for cash was no excuse.
"Your actions were not only dishonest but predatory against people with really limited means. "You preyed on others and they have been very significantly affected by what you have done."