Disorderly gang member sentenced to 160 hours of community work in Whanganui District Court

Jason Hone Rutherford exhibited disorderly behaviour outside of Stellar Restaurant & Bar in late May. He was involved in brawls and aggressive towards others.

A patched member of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang will do 160 hours of community work.

Jason Hone Rutherford pleaded guilty in Whanganui District Court today to charges of disorderly behaviour and driving while disqualified.

Rutherford was sentenced to 80 hours of community work for each charge by Judge Philip Crayton and has been suspended from driving for one year.

Police prosecutor Stephen Butler told the court that the disorderly offending occurred at about 2am on Sunday, May 27.

"The defendant was at Stellar Bar on Taupo Quay, Whanganui with a number of associates," Butler said.

"The bar was busy with over 100 patrons either inside or on the footpath outside the front door."

At the time, a number of Mongrel Mob associates were also in the area and one of them was involved in an altercation with another male outside the main door of the bar.

"The defendant came out of the bar, punched the male, striking him in the head area and knocking him to the ground," Butler said.

"The fight between the Mongrel Mob associate and the male continued while the defendant was aggressive to others in the area and fronted up to them by pumping out his chest."

The Mongrel Mob associate was later knocked to the ground and people were standing over him and hitting him.

The defendant joined in, running over to where the Mongrel Mob associate was and stomping on him twice.

After this, the defendant was later involved in another brawl further along Taupo Quay.

"On the 27th of May, you got yourself involved in disorder and a violent situation," Judge Crayton said.

"You have to understand that it won't be tolerated. If you had any great history, then I would be looking at imprisonment."

Rutherford had offended in a similar manner, but that was seven years ago when he was 17.

He has had five demerit suspensions for driving within three years.

"You've got a choice to make, whether you're going to get a licence that allows you to drive what you want to drive, or stop trying to ride something outside of your licence," Judge Crayton said.

"If you don't, you're going to find yourself going up the scale because as a third or subsequent, imprisonment starts to loom pretty quickly."