Car vandal told behave or look at prison time

A Masterton man was put on notice yesterday that any further criminal offending would likely see him sentenced to prison.

Christopher Lee Rushbrook, 23, unemployed, appeared in Masterton District Court before Judge Susan Thomas on two charges of unlawfully interfering with cars at Solway Railway Station on August 28.

Rushbrook, who was represented by Jock Blathwayt, pleaded guilty.

A further charge of unlawfully possessing a knife was withdrawn by leave of the court.

Prosecuting, Sergeant Garry Wilson said that, about 5am on August 28 Rushbrook had been seen walking around vehicles parked at the station and had then left in a car.

A police patrol were unable to stop his vehicle because of other traffic but found two vehicles at the station had been damaged.

One had a rear window smashed and the ignition apparatus had been pulled out of one vehicle as well.

Rushbrook had driven past the station and when apprehended by police and spoken to had initially said he had earlier been dropping a friend off at the station. He later changed his story to say he had not been in the area at the time the damage to the vehicles was done.

Judge Thomas told Rushbrook that in their victim impact reports the owners of the damaged cars had spoken about the invasion of their privacy and the inconvenience his actions had caused them, which included having to take time off work to have damage repaired.

"I suggest to you this is your last chance of receiving a sentence which will not take away your liberty.

"You are on notice now if you continue to offend you are likely to go to prison," Judge Thomas said.

She sentenced Rushbrook to a total of 120 hours' community work and ordered him to pay reparation of $648.50 in weekly instalments of $20.