A Timaru man was told he was making the lives of those around him "miserable”, according to a district court judge.

Zenath Richard Wishart, 23, was charged with threatening grievous bodily harm in the Ashburton District Court.

Lawyer Cory Shaw said Wishart had started to better himself, having enrolled in an automotive course in Timaru and gotten into an exercise routine at a gym.

"He is well aware, however, that the court is going to send a sharp shot,” Shaw said.

"It does outline a concerning pattern on behaviour.”

Judge Campbell Savage asked if Wishart had read the victim impact statement.

"He might want to read it.

"It would suggest that you need to change your behaviour because you’re making the lives of the people around you miserable.”

Savage told Wishart he needed to put in the effort to change, "like you do in the gym”.

"Otherwise, [your family] will have to go to Christchurch to visit you.”

Wishart was convicted and sentenced to 3 months of community detention and 12 months intensive supervision.

"There’s some assistance there to change the way you respond to things,” Savage said.

"It would be a good idea to take it.”

Sentencing postponed

A Christchurch woman has had her sentencing put off further after failing a driving test.

Natasha Christine Ranson, 32, had been charged with careless driving and driving while suspended last year.

She had aimed to complete a driving course as a form of mitigation, before reappearing in court but had failed the test.

That meant she should be sentenced to do community work, but Ranson had a slipped disc that would make such work difficult, lawyer Paul Bradford said to Judge Savage.

Savage remanded Ranson on bail for another court on December 9, after her next test.

Get your head in the game

Damian Uday Ripimai Singh, 29, was in court for failing to attend rehab programmes and breaching community work conditions.

Judge Savage had some strong words for Singh, who has appeared before the court several times this year.

"You need to get your head in the game before we put you in jail.”

He was remanded by Judge Savage for sentencing on December 9.

Assault charge

A Methven man pleaded guilty to an assault charge.

Jordan Teihoka Barry Philp, 25, was charged with assault with intent to injure after an incident on August 20 this year.

He was remanded on bail and sentencing was put off until November 25.

Drug dealing

A Netherby woman was in court for a raft of cannabis-related charges.

Haylee Jayne Mcgrath, 46, was charged with procuring cannabis seeds, cultivating plants and possessing drugs intended for supply.

Judge Savage said her case was one that was "clearly capable of remediation”.

Mcrgath was remanded without bail to reappear on October 14.