Punched sales assistant in the face, threw ceramic cup at psychologist

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A brain injury a man suffered when he was seven years old made him impulsive and prone to angry outbursts — especially if he consumed alcohol, a lawyer told Gisborne District Court.

Dan Raniera Te Heuheu Robinson, 43, represented by counsel Heather Vaughn, pleaded guilty to assaulting a female, common assault, wilful damage, and a breach of bail.

He was sentenced to 100 hours community work and nine months' supervision.

Reparation of $200 for a window Robinson smashed was also ordered.

The charges related to three distinct incidents last year.

The first, on June 1, involved Robinson punching a female sales assistant at a liquor store in the face. She had refused to serve him.

On June 20, Robinson was at a house in Atkinson Street, intoxicated and complaining there was nothing to eat. He threw kitchen implements around, including a kettle, which smashed a window.

On August 20, he threw a ceramic cup at a clinical psychologist with whom he had a meeting at a brain injury rehabilitation centre. The cup missed the psychologist. Robinson also verbally abused that person.

Judge Cathcart said the sentence imposed was to assist Robinson's rehabilitation but also to attempt to deter him from similar offending.