Whangarei Mayor Stan Semenoff is glad all his toes are intact after a teenage boyracer, who used his business premises as a race track, drove over his foot.
Darren Thomas Garner, 17, was sentenced yesterday in the Whangarei District Court to 275 hours of community work.
He pleaded guilty to charges of
assault with a blunt instrument, being unlawfully in an enclosed yard, driving in a dangerous manner, driving while his licence was suspended and failing to stop.
The police summary of facts stated Garner and an associate were in Mr Semenoff's yard at Te Waiiti Pl, Whangarei about 6.40pm on December 21, 2009.
Garner entered the yard from a neighbouring property and drove to a gravelled area where survey pegs had been erected for a new building.
Garner used the pegs as a race track.
They left when Mr Semenoff approached them in his vehicle.
Mr Semenoff gave chase, blocked the driveway to Te Waiiti Pl and got out of his vehicle to telephone police.
Garner initially got out of his vehicle but when confronted by Mr Semenoff, got back in and drove off towards the mayor.
Mr Semenoff stumbled and put his hands on the bonnet of Garner's vehicle.
Garner then drove over Mr Semenoff's left foot, causing minor bruising. Judge James Rota said Garner could have run the mayor over.
He disqualified Garner from holding or obtaining a driver's licence for 12 months from today. Garner is on final warning on each of the dangerous driving charges.
Mr Semenoff said it was a shame Garner had behaved in such a manner and that he hoped the teenager had learnt his lesson.
"I am just glad I've still got all my toes," Mr Semenoff said.
