A Christchurch man who was jointly charged with others for the possession of items to commit a burglary on January 13 has changed his plea from not guilty to guilty.

The change in plea came after the police withdrew a charge for the illegal possession of ammunition.

Kane Phillip McClintock, 33, also admitted additional charges including the possession of a small amount of methamphetamine (meth), utensils for the use of meth, a flick knife, a knuckle duster - as well as being in possession of items to commit a burglary.

These included balaclavas, write cutters, a torch and a bolt cutter which police allege the three men intended to use to commit a burglary.

McClintock also faces charges of breaching his bail conditions and breach of community work. The court was told that McClintock has reengaged with probation and had completed some more of his community work hours.

McClintock will appear again on August 12.

'Blatant disregard'

A man who drove from Christchurch to Ashburton to visit his girlfriend, contrary to an interlock sentence, faces losing his job.

Sean Andrew Holman, 56, appeared before Judge Mark Callaghan in the Ashburton District Court on Tuesday.

He admitted two charges of drink driving and two charges of driving contrary to an interlock licence.

Holman was given an interlock sentence in the Christchurch District Court in January 2023, after pleading guilty to a charge of drink driving in 2022.

When he was stopped by police at 10pm on April 6 this year, Holman blew 400 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

He was stopped again by police on May 3 on the Rakaia Highway near Dromore. He blew 648mcg and told the police he'd had a few wines before driving from Christchurch to Ashburton to see his girlfriend.

Lawyer Cory Shaw said the cost of fitting the interlock device had been prohibitive, and Holman's drink driving stemmed from unresolved childhood trauma.

Shaw said Holman was likely to lose his job if he was disqualified from driving.
Judge Callaghan said Holman faced an indefinite disqualification for his "quite blatant" offences which would put his work in jeopardy.

Holman was sentenced to a total of 300 hours' community work and was disqualified for 12 months. At the end of the disqualification, Holman would need to apply to have his licence reinstated.

Road rage admitted

A man who had earlier denied charges of assault with intent to injure after becoming annoyed at the driving of a light truck driver has changed his plea,

Rakaia man Brendon Aaron Edgeler, 36, pleaded guilty to punching a man, fuelled by road rage, on February 9 near Fairton.

Judge Callaghan made a referral for restorative justice and remanded Edgeler to August 12.

Plea changed

A man who had earlier denied a charge of family violence changed his plea to guilty.

Netherby man Brandon Lee Farr-Wilson, 30, admitted punching his ex-girlfriend after she had entered his home and assaulted Farr-Wilson's partner while she was asleep at about 6.30am on December 3 last year.

Judge Callaghan said Farr-Wilson followed his ex-partner outside and knocked her backwards with a punch to the face.

She fell and was knocked unconscious "for a few seconds".

Judge Callaghan also remitted more than $11,000 in outstanding fines when he sentenced Farr-Wilson to five month's community detention with a curfew of 6pm Friday to 6am on Saturday and 6pm Sat to 6am on Monday.

Dishonesty charge

Greer Ellen Fomison, 39, appeared for sentencing on a charge of obtaining by deception.

She had contacted the victim over Facebook, using a false identity to buy a gold heart sovereign pendant on April 26.

Fomison told the victim she had transferred $4000 for the pendant and sent a fake screenshot.

Lawyer Cory Shaw said it was "opportunistic offending" at the end of a bad relationship.

"She made the wrong decision and acknowledges that," he said.

Shaw said this was Fomison's first dishonesty charge.

Judge Callaghan ordered Fomison to pay $500 in reparation for the insurance excess, with no further penalty.

"You’ve got some history but not for dishonesty – hopefully your last foray into dishonesty," he said.

Fourth drink driving conviction

Anthony Brent Cone, 60, appeared for sentencing for his fourth drink driving conviction.

He blew 945mcg when stopped by police at about 5pm on South Street on January 28. Cone told the police he was going to buy groceries.

Judge Callaghan said Cone had previous drink driving convictions from 2006, 2008 and 2014.

"You’ve obviously got an issue with drinking and getting behind the wheel of the car," the judge said.

Cone was sentenced to four months' community detention with a curfew of 9pm Friday to 9am Saturday and 6pm Saturday to 7am Monday.

He was also sentenced to nine months' supervision and given an interlock sentence which effectively means Cone will need to drive with zero alcohol for at least four years.

Care remanded

Andre-Yves le Platre, 31, appeared on a charge of assault on a person in a family relationship on December 14 last year. He will appear again on June 17.

Arrest warrant

Judge Callaghan issued an arrest warrant for Nathan Paul French, 30, after he failed to appear in court on charges of speaking threateningly and careless driving.

By Sharon Davis