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Court News: August 24

Court News: August 24

Remanded for sentencing

Netherby man Julius Stewart Graff, 47, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault on July 19 and a charge of drink driving.

Graff blew 501mcg of alcohol per litre of breath when stopped by police on Cambridge Terrace on August 13.

He will appear for sentencing on October 16.

Eight-month sentence

A man who has spent the last four months in jail was given an eight-month jail sentence.

Allan James Hislop 39, admitted a raft of charges including the possession of methamphetamine, stealing a mountain bike and receiving stolen items, resisting arrest and escaping police custody.

Hislop's lawyer Douglas Brown said he only had two previous dishonesty charges and has spent four months in prison.

Judge Savage handed Hislop an eight-month jail sentence, which would see him released on general bail terms within a week.

"I hope you can shake the meth," Judge Savage said.

Fraud admitted

A Tinwald woman who initially denied Work and Income fraud has changed her plea after four charges were withdrawn.

Yvonne Marie McLean, 64, pleaded guilty to two charges of not disclosing she was in a relationship between March 2012 and August 2022.

According to the Ministry of Social Development, McLean filled her details form in incorrectly, claiming she was not in a relationship when she was.

McLean was remanded on bail and will appear for sentencing on November 13.

Plea changed

A Rakaia woman charged with using a broom and a spade as a weapon has changed her pleas from not guilty to guilty after some charges were withdrawn and others amended.

Cherie Joan Harvey, 57, was remanded on bail and will appear again on October 26.

Disqualified

Dylan James Parish, 18, was disqualified from driving for six months after admitting a charge of sustained loss of traction on Middle Road on July 11.

Judge Savage granted Parish's request to apply for a limited work licence.

Protection order breaches

Brad Michael Rodgers, 47, was given a nine-month supervision sentence on two charges of breaching a protection order last year.

His lawyer Jennifer North said Rodgers was surprised when his marriage of 15 years had come to an end and had struggled to accept that.

North said Rodgers no accepts that the relationship is over and will use the family court to get access to his two children.

Rodgers was given a nine-month supervision sentence.

Receiving

Mt Somers man Niko Simonsen, 25, admitted receiving a three-phase power box worth $3500 without considering whether it was stolen.

He will appear again on October 6.

Driving while disqualified

Allenton man Brooke Lee Thomas, 30, admitted driving while disqualified on Alford Forest Road on March 2.

This was Thomas' third or subsequent conviction for driving while disqualified.

Judge Savage disqualified Thomas from driving for 12 months and sentenced him to two months' community detention.

Refusing a drug test

Tinwald man Michael Jay Wilson admitted the possession of cannabis and bong as well as failing to submit to an impairment test when he was stopped by police on July 4.

His lawyer Cory Shaw said the cannabis was for personal use and Wilson refused the drug test after he was told he would have to pay about $2000 to cover the costs.

"He did not have the money to pay that," Shaw said.

Judge Savage disqualified Wilson from driving for 12 months and sentenced him to nine months' supervision.

Case remanded

Pere Mataiti, 37, admitted driving while suspended in Ashburton on July 29.

His case was remanded to November 13 to give him time to get his restricted licence.

Taking matters into her own hands

A woman who decided to confront the mother of a school bully has been given a new supervision sentence.

Dominque Margaret Ward, 37, admitted a charge of threatening to harm another woman, while on a supervision sentence for previous violent offending in March this year.

Her lawyer Jennifer North said Ward took matters into her own hands when the victim's child was bullying her child.

The children both attend the school, North said.

Judge Savage cancelled Ward's existing sentence of supervision and handed down a new 12-month supervision sentence.

Remanded without plea

Juane Tamatahi Hillman, 22, was remanded without plea on nine charges including burglary, receiving stolen property, dangerous driving and failing to stop for police.

He will appear again on September 4.

Warrants issued

Judge Savage issued four warrants for arrest for people who failed to appear in the Ashburton District Court on Monday.

Jamie Graham Hartnett, 44, failed to appear on several charges of receiving stolen items and a charge of entering a property with the intent to commit an offence.

Dwana Timutimu, 31, did not appear on charges of falsely claiming to be the driver of a car involved in an accident.

Lionel Heka failed to appear on a charge of assault and Shilo Wiremu Rutene, 27, was not in court for breaching his community work sentence.