Whanganui District Court hears of man who entered property, grabbed woman and shook her while saying he was being chased

After being convicted for entering a property without authority, Karl Quentin Spittle is to come up to the court if called upon as ordered by Judge Dugald Matheson. Photo / Bevan Conley

A woman was in her bedroom on a Thursday night when she was startled by dogs barking outside and opened the door to see what was going on.

She was shocked as Karl Quentin Spittle grabbed hold of her shoulders and began shaking her while saying that he was being chased.

Spittle had scaled a six-foot fence to get on to the property, then entered the home through the conservatory and an unlocked back door.

He was ordered to come up if called upon by Judge Dugald Matheson in Whanganui District Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to being found in a building without authority.

Police prosecutor Stephen Butler explained to the court what happened after the confrontation.

"The victim told the defendant to leave her house and when he refused, the victim called for help and with her son, removed the defendant from the house," Butler said.

"The defendant then jumped the back fence and was located at a neighboring address where the occupants did not know him. In explanation, he said that he was being chased."

In Spittle's defence, lawyer Richard Leith confirmed that his client was being chased at the time.

"He actually contacted police seeking their assistance prior to the event and after, that is the reason why he was entering properties," Leith said.

"He only has the use of one arm, so he's in a very difficult position to defend himself if he was being attacked by somebody. He has tried to hide from the person that was chasing him, rather than risk confrontation.

"It's not a situation where anything was taken, it's a matter of him remaining there after he had been clearly told he wasn't allowed to be there."

"He grabbed her by the shoulders, didn't he?" Judge Matheson asked.

"He did sir, because he was in a panic, he was being chased," Leith replied.

"It's still horrific for her, it was a frightening thing," Judge Matheson said.

However, Judge Matheson accepted Spittle's explanation and ordered him to come up to the court if called upon in the next six months.