Rotorua businessman Ryan Graham Petch has admitted punching a stranger in the jaw before head-butting the window of a police car, shattering the window.
Petch, 34, who operates Rotorua's Burger Fuel franchise, entered guilty pleas to one charge of assault and one of intentionally damaging a police patrol car through his
lawyer, Francis Woods, when he appeared in the Rotorua District Court yesterday. Petch pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting a female.
He appeared for a status hearing before Judge Joanna Maize.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Richard van Arendonk told the court Petch had been drinking at the Lava Bar about 12.30am on August 27 and was heavily intoxicated when he left.
As Petch walked along Arawa St he punched a stranger in the jaw.
Police arrested Petch and as he was handcuffed, he head butted the rear window of the patrol car four times, smashing the glass, then head butted the boot of the patrol car, causing four "sizeable" dents and $2000 damage.
Mr Woods said his client was dealing with "considerable" stress at the time as he was going through a custody battle.
Petch had made reparation to New Zealand Police for the damage caused to the patrol car but was unable to apologise to the assault victim because of bail conditions.
Judge Maize said Petch had two previous convictions for assault, which were linked and dated back to 2005.
On the charge of intentional damage Petch was discharged without conviction but was fined $400 for the assault. On the male assaults female charge, Petch was remanded on bail for a defended hearing on December 21.
