Re-offending while serving sentence results in imprisonment for Whanganui man

Judge Philip Crayton said Luke Reid had a very poor history of offending and compliance when sentencing him to imprisonment. Photo / Stuart Munro

A man was sentenced for driving while disqualified, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and possession of cannabis in September 2018 and two weeks later he was offending again.

Luke Gordon Alexander Reid was serving a sentence of community work and supervision when he was involved in a confrontation on September 30.

Reid appeared before Judge Philip Crayton in Whanganui District Court on Monday for sentencing.

Judge Crayton said Reid and the victim were at a Whanganui address when the offending began.

"You were asked for cigarettes to return to the victim, declined, and there was then a physical confrontation," Judge Crayton said.

"You took up a baseball bat and that was involved in a second confrontation between the two of you."

Three days later, Reid was at an address with the victim again and police were called to remove him as he was trespassing.

"You had, when the police attended, a .22 rifle. It was in a bag at your feet. It had a wooden stock, the bolt was placed loosely in the firearm," Judge Crayton said.

"There was no ammunition with it, but it is still a firearm with the ability to operate."

In explanation to police, Reid said he was restoring the firearm and did not intend to use it. They also found Reid in possession of a gram of cannabis.

Reid pleaded guilty to wilful trespassing, possessing an offensive weapon, unlawfully possessing a firearm and possessing cannabis.

In sentencing Reid, Judge Crayton took his historical convictions for driving while disqualified in 2018 and male assaults female in 2011 into account.

"You have a very poor history both of offending and compliance," the judge said.

Judge Crayton sentenced Reid to nine months' imprisonment and ordered the destruction of the cannabis, rifle and baseball bat.