Man jailed after throwing tank through police windscreen

A dive bottle was thrown through the windscreen of a police car. Photo / Getty Images

A man who smashed a police car windscreen with a dive cylinder appeared at Napier District Court today and asked if he could have his cylinder back.

Richard Tina Keil, 42 - a disqualified driver - was pulled over by police about 9.30am on Ellison St in Napier on Sunday.

Police checks found he had not changed the registration of the car he was driving, which was still in the name of the previous owner who lives in Auckland.

A police summary of the incident said Keil became enraged and began abusing police when they advised him the vehicle would be seized.

According to police Keil then went to the boot of his car and removed a dive cylinder from the back of his car.

He then went to stand in front of the police patrol car before raising the canister above his head and threatening "I'll do it".

Keil's actions resulted in the front windscreen shattering and a dent in the bonnet.

He was arrested at the scene.

Today he pleaded guilty to wilful damage and driving while prohibited.

He appeared in front of Judge Tony Adeane who convicted and discharged him on the basis he could pay $2280 in reparation, the cost to repair the police car.

Keil told Judge Adeane he was starting a job next week and would be able to pay the $50 a week reparation sought by police.

He then reappeared before the court to advise Judge Adeane he did not in fact have a job lined up and needed to contact his father about setting up the reparation payment.

Judge Adeane said he had misinformed the court and sentenced him to seven days' imprisonment.

The judge advised him he would have access to a phone in prison so that he could sort out his employment situation and said the original sentence had only been imposed on the misinformation provided by Keil.

He asked Keil if today was going to be a day where they "play games" with each other and informed him he would be spending a lot longer in jail if he could not sort out a way to pay reparation.