Jail terms for three

Ruapehu Bulletin, 24 November 1992, Page 6

Jail terms for three

The following cases were heard by Judge Richard Watson in the Ohakune District Court last Thursday. Police sergeant Bob Evans of Ohakune appeared for the prosecution. Jailed for 1 2 months Stephen Hoani Brown, 21, bushman of Rangataua was jailed for a total of 12 months when he appeared for sentence on several charges arising out of offences which occurred on 28 June, 24 July, 2 August, 10 September and 16 October. The latter offences occurred while he

was on bail and under curfew. On 28 June he intentionally damaged a window at the Powderhorn Ski Shop. On 24 July he was arrested in the Ohakune Hotel while on bail but escaped by the back door and was found in the car park. On 2 August he unlawfully took a Honda Prelude car valued at $9,500 and a farm bike valued at $7,000. On 10 September he was convicted of driving with excess breath alcohol in Clyde Street, Ohakune.

On 16 October he was charged with car conversion, driving while dis^ qualified, causing wilful damage and with failing to stop to ascertain injury after a collision with another vehicle. Details of the earlier offences (prior to 16 October) have already been reported in the Bulletin. Court heard that defendant had stolen a Ford Falcon ute valued at $1500 at 3.50am on 16 October and driven it towards Pipiriki. He became aware that he was being followed by another vehicle so he stopped and when the other vehicle also

■ stoppea, Jtsrown reversed I at speed into the front of I the other vehicle (an I Audi). It was reported that I the Audi sustained $7000 I damage but the Bulletin I has subsequently learnt I that the damage has so far I amounted to $20,000. Brown then drove off, I without stopping to see I if the occupants of the I other car had suffered any I injury. ' When police located and apprehended Brown on the River Road near Pipiriki he admitted that he had been drinking since 2pm the previous day. On the charge of causing intentional damage to the window on 28 June he was convicted and discharged. On the charge of escaping custody on 24 July he was jailed for three months. On the charge relating to car conversion on 2 August he was jailed for six months. On the charge of theft of a farm bike he was jailed for three months (concurrent). For the offences committed on 16 October he was jailed for 12 months for unlawfully taking the ute, two months for failing to stop to ascertain injury, and six months for wilful damage. The following periods of disqualification from driving were also imposed: car conversion (12 months); failing to stop (six months); driving while disqualified (6 months). All terms are concurrent: he will serve 12 months imprisonment and was disqualified for 12 months. Judge Watson said Brown had failed to make any reparation for earlier offences nor had he met his obligation to pay fines or attend alcohol counselling after assuring the court that he would do so. "In that way you have let the court, your counsel and yourself down and the public should not have to put up with someone who constantly created havoc in the community by converting and damaging cars," he said. "You now have a medical condition (cirrhosis of the liver) which indicated the degree of alcohol consumption at your

age which will ensure that you will have a short and unpleasant life unless you do something about it when you are released from prison as the damage is irreversible." Counsel: Paul Brown. Repeat offender receives jail term Ricky John McLeod, 23, unemployed Taihape, pleaded guilty to three charges including: breaking and entering the Rendezvous Dairy in Ohakune on 11 November; assaulting the proprietor of the Rendezvous Dairy on that date in an attempt to facilitate flight when cornered; receiving a car radio valued at $200 knowing it to have been stolen or dishonestly obtained between 30 October and 3 November. He said he had paid $50 for it. Court heard how McLeod, who had broken into the Rendezvous Dairy with a crow-bar and had already placed a considerable quantity of goods in bags in the early hours of the morning, was trapped within the premises when the proprietor and his wife arrived at about 3am. He had attempted to hide but, when discovered, attempted to escape by striking the proprietor in the face. He ran off into the dark but had been identified and was arrested the following morning. In passing a 15-month prison sentence on the burglary charge Judge Watson commented that it was McLeod's 17th or 18th conviction for burglary and the public had a right to be protected. On the charge of receiving he was sentenced to a concurrent term of 6 months jail. For using aggravated violence to escape he was jailed to a cumulative term of 6 months in prison making a total of 21 months. Counsel: Brian Mason Seven month prison term Darryl Wayne Pickery, 21, unemployed of Raetihi, was jailed for seven months when he appeared for sentence on several charges relating to offences which occurred on 4 and 19 September. In the first incident Pickery had been driving at excessive speed in Goldfinch Street, Ohakune, when he collided with another vehicle which had slowed for an animal. The other vehicle had been shunted into a power pole causing a power blackout in part of the township and one of the occupants had been injured. In relation to this incident he was charged with careless driving causing injury, excess breath alcohol (700/1), and using threatening language. In the second incident he was charged with offences involving the New World Supermarket in Tum to page 10

Court

From page 6 Ohakune: offensive behaviour in relation to a customer and staff member, wilful trespass; using threatening language against a male staff member; threatening., to kill a police constable; wilful damage to a police car. For driving with excess breath alcohol he was jailed for one month; for careless driving causing injury he was jailed for six months (cumulative) and disqualified for six months. On the second series of offences he was sentenced as follows: for threatening language and behaviour he was convicted and discharged;

wiltul damage (one month's jail); wilful trespass (2 months jail); threatening to kill a police constable (3 months jail). In addition to these two series of offences Pickery was also sentenced to two month's jail for breach of periodic detention. These latter jail terms were to be served concurrently with those imposed for the first series of offences making a total of seven months. Judge Watson said individually these offences may not have warranted a jail term but collectively and because Pickery's pattern of offending had been over a period of 7-8 years a custodial sentence was necessary. He said Pickery's use of threatening language had been particularly distressing for the youngei of the two occupants oi the car who had her jaw broken in the collision on 4 September. Judge Watson said Pickery must undertake alcohol abuse counselling as directed on release from prison as all his offending could be traced to the consumption of alcohol. Counsel: Paul Brown