District Court news

Gisborne Courthouse

WHEN his daughter alleged serious offending by another person, Alec Thomson, 30, breached his sentence of home detention by cutting off his monitoring anklet so he could pay the other man a visit.

Thomson had been drinking whisky at the time — a further breach of his sentence, Gisborne District Court was told.

He admitted the two breaches and pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly behaviour.

The probation service sought a sentence of community work as a penalty for the offending. But Judge Henwood said that seemed circular. Thomson was on home detention for an obvious drinking offence, yet had breached the sentence by drinking.

In her view, the only way to deal with the situation with integrity was to cancel Thomson’s sentence and re-impose it for a longer term.

She added a further month to Thomson’s term of detention.

Counsel Alistair Clark said Thomson’s actions towards the man who he managed to engage in a physical fight, were fuelled by frustration that police did not seem to be doing enough to address the allegations.

It was understood that man had since been more fully investigated and there was some credence to the allegations, Mr Clarke said.

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A MAN and woman who claim they are no longer a couple and live apart were stopped by fisheries officers who observed them out collecting paua with their two children.

The officers found two sacks containing a total of 132 excess and undersized paua in the boot of their vehicle.

The shellfish were taken from Tuahine Point.

The woman Leemo Katerina Leilua, 39, unemployed, and the man Tama Kaimoana Tuwairua, 44, each pleaded guilty to two offences, their first fisheries matters.

They were each sentenced to 125 hours community work. The court was told neither could afford a fine.

Both said they had failed to notice a fisheries sign clearly outlining regulations, posted in the area in which they gathered the shellfish.

Their take included specimens ranging from 59mm to 102mm. The size requirement for legal paua is 125mm.

The couple were each charged as standard procedure in relation to the entire take, although Leilua tried to persuade fisheries officers she was only responsible for one of the sacks, which contained 53 paua.

The daily bag limit for each gatherer is 10.

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UPSET that two friends had gone into town without him, a man took to a vehicle belonging to one of them, smashing the windscreen and breaking off a wing mirror, the court heard.

Ford John Salt-Taiapa, 19,was offered diversion but failed to front after numerous opportunities given to him by the police, prosecutor Claire Stewart said. The offer had now been withdrawn.

He admitted wilful damage and a breach of bail. He was further remanded on bail until August 24.

Judge Henman referred the matter to restorative justice and said she would withhold entering convictions at this stage.

She noted Salt-Taiapa had a previously unblemished record.

The court was told the offending was underscored by feelings of jealousy.

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FOR breaching a protection order by refusing to leave after an argument, Peter Jackson Tu, 20, was sentenced to four months imprisonment.

Tu admitted the offence and had effectively already served the sentence while on remand in custody. He will be released immediately.

The sentence also covered a breach of release conditions, to which Tu pleaded guilty.

Judge Henwood noted Tu had numerous previous similar convictions for domestic offences.

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OUT with his four-year-old son while broke and in need of something to eat, single parent Hemi John Edmonds, 20, tried to steal a pack of sausages.

After realising he had been seen by a store owner, he tried to secrete the goods behind other products.

When the store owner went to phone police, Edmonds punched the man in the face, giving him a swollen nose that bled profusely.

Edmonds later told police he didn’t like the way the store owner swore at him in front of his son.

Edmonds pleaded guilty to the offence and a charge of assault. He was remanded on bail until August 24 for referral to the restorative justice process.

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CLAUDE Desmond Sheridan, 33, admitted theft of a fishing reel (valued at $109) from a shop and a breach of bail.

He was fined $150 (costs $130) and ordered to pay reparation.

Counsel Tony Robinson told the judge Sheridan was on remand for other more serious charges, due to be heard later this year.

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SOLOMAN King Jan Edwards, 48, pleaded guilty to theft from a shop and two counts of wilful damage. The probation service wanted his previous community work sentence reviewed.

Edwards was given a further opportunity to complete the sentence and remanded further on bail until October 5.

Counsel Tony Robinson said Edwards’ life was now more stable and he would have no trouble meeting his obligation.

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A MAN was no longer able to wear the electronic anklet required for him to complete his sentence of home detention. A serious illness prevented it, the court heard.

The probation service sought a review of the original eight-month sentence, of which Jordan Kyle Winiata had all but one month left to serve.

It had been imposed for a violent offence in which the complainant was badly injured.

Winiata had already completed 100 hours community work. He was re-sentenced to 12 months supervision.

The court was told Winiata’s illness sometimes caused his legs to swell. The anklet could further endanger his health.

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SHAUN Kaui, 35, admitted breaching community work. He had since completed the sentence so was convicted and discharged.

To a charge of driving while disqualified for the third or subsequent time, Kaui intimated a guilty plea. The matter was transferred to the Ruatoria District Court.

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