Not guilty plea

A 21-year-old Timaru man has denied several charges of sex with a person under the age of 16 and performing indecent acts on someone aged between 10 and 14.

The offending is alleged to have occurred between January 2016 and December 2020 and carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail.

The man was granted interim name suppression when he appeared in court and opted to have a judge-alone trial.

He was remanded on bail and will appear again on November 13.

Assault admitted

A Hampstead man said he attacked a local taxi driver for pulling a finger.

Viny Ryan Tait, 31, admitted a charge of common assault on Burnett St on July 23.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Stuart Whyte said Tait and the victim knew each other.

Tait told police the victim, who works as a local taxi driver, pulled a finger at him. He then went to confront the victim who was parked up on Burnett St.

"Words were exchanged" before the victim was punched once in the mouth, suffering a minor cut to the lip, Whyte said,

The case was remanded to allow for a restorative justice conference. Tait will appear again on October 30.

Charges denied

Allenton man Jamie Graham Hartnett denied several charges of receiving stolen items between March 2021 and July this year.

The 44-year-old elected to have a judge-alone trial and will appear again on November 13.

Stay of prosecution

Judge Dravitzki ordered a stay or prosecution after police failed to provide the information needed for the case to proceed.

A charge of the illegal possession of capsicum spray against Shannon Lee Ohlson, 32, will not proceed.

The court was told that Ohlson's charge was associated with more serious charges against players in the drug ring and police had initially provided redacted information.

In December last year, police were told to provide an uncensored version of its application for a search warrant. Ohlson's case was remanded several times waiting for this information.

Ohlson's lawyer Paul Bradford applied for a stay of prosecution.

After some debate on whether the police should be given one last chance to respond, Judge Dravitzki ordered the stay of prosecution.

He also issued an order for the destruction of the spray. ,

First driving conviction

A 19-year-old Rakaia man who attracted the attention of police for driving without his lights on has been given his first driving conviction.

Joshua Brinsdon had earlier admitted driving while disqualified, speeding, failing to stop for police and possession of a bong for cannabis.

According to the summary of facts, Brinsdon was driving on Main South Road in Rolleston on June 1. Police signalled him to stop because he was driving without his lights on. He drove off, travelling at 145km/h in a 100km/h zone,

Just before midnight on June 5, police recognised the car from the previous incident and signalled Brinsdan to stop. He pulled a finger at the police and drove off.

Brinsdan was arrested when he pulled into the driveway of an associate. He admitted speeding on June 1 and told police he panicked because he was driving while suspended.

"You had two moments of real stupidity. Driving in this way is incredibly dangerous," Judge Dravitzki said.

Brinsdan was convicted and disqualified from driving for 10 months. He was sentenced to 150 hours' community work.

Remanded for sentencing

A man who has been in jail for more than four months was remanded for sentencing in the Timaru District Court.

Nathan Lee Rolton, 29, appeared by audio-visual link on charges of breaching a protection order and psychological abuse in April this year.

He pleaded guilty to amended charges. and was remanded for sentencing before the same judge in the Timaru court on September 20.

Judge Dravitzki said Rolton had already spent a "significant amount of time in custody".

Drink Driving

Methven man Brookes Stephen Namana, 38, appeared for sentencing on charges of drink driving and driving while suspended, as well as a new charge of failing to appear in court.

Judge Dravitzki said Namana had previous drink driving convictions, but they were from 15 years ago.

Namana was disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day and given a six-month supervision sentence for the drink driving charge.

He was convicted and discharged on the other two charges.

Supervision on weapons charge

Liam Hopa McDonald, 26, was convicted of possessing a knife after an opportunity to complete diversion fell through.

He also pleaded guilty to a new charge of failing to appear in court.

McDonald was sentenced to six months' supervision on the weapons charge and convicted and discharged for failing to appear in court.

Judge Dravitzki said having a breach of bail conditions on his record was punishment enough for failing to appear in court.

Remand declined

A man who claimed he was unable to complete diversion due to work commitments was denied further time to do so.

Daniel Richard Collier, 21, appeared on charges of family violence and possession of a shotgun without holding a licence.

Collier told his lawyer Cory Shaw that he was unable to attend the counselling sessions required for diversion because he worked from 7am to 5pm seven days a week. He hoped to be allowed more time to complete diversion.

Judge Dravitzki said he found the work hours hard to believe and Collier's case had already been remanded several times.

“I think he’s come to the end of the road” the judge said, referring to the opportunity to complete diversion.

Collier was sentenced to nine months' supervision on the assault charge.

“You need to address things in terms of your relationship and the supervision sentence will give you the opportunity to do that," the judge said.

Judge Dravitzki said he had considered a community work sentence for the weapon charge, but decided to stop short of that because there was no suggestion that the weapon was used in a threatening way.

He ordered the destruction of the weapon.

Assault admitted

Mana Terare Tuakoi, 27, pleaded guilty to charges of assault and wilful damage on his birthday.

According to the summary of facts Tuakoi was denied access to a bar because he was intoxicated and attacked the man who had denied his entry when he encountered him later on September 3.

Tuakoi also kicked at glass panes near the police station out of frustration while waiting for his brother to be released.

His case was remanded to allow for a restorative justice conference. He will appear again on October 30 for sentencing.

Warrants

Judge Dravitzki issued warrants to arrest for people who failed to appear in court on Monday.

Michelle Alexander, 29, did not appear on a charge of breaching her community work sentence.

Richie Stuart Clutterbuck, 60, was not in court for charges of assault and taking a vehicle for his own use. Sergeant Whyte said police were opposed to Clutterbuck being bailed when he was arrested.

Whyte said police believed Clutterbuck had been actively avoiding police and the last time police had located him he had rammed a police car.

Timaru woman Shari Anni-Leigh Rueben, 27, failed to appear on a charge of drink driving.