AFTER being released from prison, Tukotahi Maharaia Rawiri Williams went around to a former workmate’s house to demand the money he was owed.
While he was there, he broke a window and intimidated the man. When he appeared in the Whakatane District Court last week, he pleaded guilty to wilful damage, speaking threateningly and driving while disqualified.
His lawyer, Kaushlyn Kumar, said Williams was frustrated because the money was meant to be paid to his family while he was in prison.
“The damage wasn’t intentional, he was just banging on the door and it broke.”
Ms Kumar said the driving while disqualified related to a separate incident that occurred when he managed to find a fulltime job on a farm after being released from prison
“He got very excited and decided to drive to work.”
Judge Louis Bidois said Williams had been indefinitely disqualified from driving and needed to go through the process of having that status removed so he could sit his licence again.
He said while Williams had some cause to visit his former workmates, the situation shouldn’t have escalated to the point where the police needed to be called.
“In the future keep your hands to yourself, keep your mouth to yourself and keep your hands off the wheel.”
He sentenced Williams to 300 hours of community work, ordered him to pay $93 in reparation and $100 emotional harm. He also disqualified Williams from driving for a further 12 months.
First time
AN 82-year-old man was convicted and discharged when he appeared in the Whakatane District Court last week because of his age and it was his first criminal conviction.
Ian McKenzie pleaded guilty to one charge of careless driving. His lawyer Steve Franklin handed up a letter to the judge that outlined his client’s severe medical conditions.
Cannabis dealer
WITH 30 tinnies, a wad of cash and a series of texts on his phone facilitating sales, it was obvious that Riki Richard Nahi had been dealing cannabis.
He had previously pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of cannabis for supply and one of selling cannabis. He appeared in court last week for sentence.
Judge Louis Bidois said along with the cannabis, police also found a packet of magic mushrooms in his freezer.
“Given the number tinnies you had and that you have been selling for a month there was a commercial aspect.”
He sentenced Nahi to eight months home detention and 160 hours community work, but warned him to comply with his sentence or he would go to jail.
“I can tell you one thing, they will be watching, and if you don’t comply or, of course, if you offend again you will go away.”
Driving drunk
WHEN Colin Huri Williams noticed his horses weren’t in the paddock where he left them, he saw lights down the road and decided to go and check them out.
Even though he had been drinking and had been indefinitely disqualified from driving, Williams still decided to take a car.
He discovered the lights weren’t responsible for taking his horses, but came from police at a checkpoint.
When he was tested he returned a result of 700 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.
His lawyer, Roger Gowing, said Williams had been working in Te Urewera and was concerned about his horses because he used them in his employment.
Judge Bidois noted it had been 10 years since his last conviction and sentenced him to 270 hours of community work and disqualified him from driving for a further 15 months.
“You haven’t had any criminal convictions since 2006, so you have pretty much got your life on track but for this.”
Back step
FOR months Alexander George Whittle hadn’t touched alcohol and life was sweet.
He had given up drinking when his partner asked him to but then one day he went to the liquor store and returned with a box of beer.
Judge Bidois said that was when it “turned to custard”.
Whittle had become angry after consuming the beer.
“You had been directing the kids to clean their room, which is a part of daily life, but it was how you tell them and the state of the person telling them.
“Of course they are not going to listen to someone who is drunk,” the judge said.
Whittle appeared in court charged with male assaults female and Judge Bidois sentenced him to 120 hours community work, warning him to keep his hands to himself.
Right now
In spite of the judge initially calling for a pre-sentence report, Caleb Anthony Paikea elected to be sentenced on the day.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of driving while disqualified, three of breaching court release conditions and one of common assault.
The common assault related to Paikea punching his former partner and the breaches were for not attending supervision. The driving while disqualified conviction related to two incidents that occurred five days apart.
Judge Bidois sentenced Paikea 12 months in jail and disqualified him from driving for a year.