An Ashburton freezer worker has admitted a raft of dishonesty charges from November last year to January this year.

Leanne Kay Mayhew, 37, admitted 23 dishonesty charges and a charge of possessing a pipe for methamphetamine when she appeared before Judge Stephen O'Driscoll in the Ashburton District Court on Monday.

She pleaded guilty after police withdrew one charge of the theft of cash over $1000 and amended a charge of accessing a computer for dishonest purposes in October last year to a representative charge.

At least 14 charges are for the fraudulent use of store and bank cards and carry a maximum penalty of seven years in prison. Another six charges are for entering premises with the intention to commit an imprisonable offence, with a maximum penalty of a 10-year jail term.

According to the charging documents, Mayhew fraudulently used a Farmers finance card in Ashburton on November 1.

On November 20, she used the Farmers card twice in Ashburton and entered a premises on Kermode Street without permission with the intent to commit an offence.

Mayhew stole a handbag containing cash and bank cards on December 18 and used a stolen bank card in Ashburton on the same day.

She also admitted a representative charge of using a stolen bank card on December 19.

On December 24, Mayhew used the Farmers card twice in Ashburton.

She also stole a second handbag with cash and bank cards on the same day and is charged with using a bank card and entering premises on Grey Street.

Mayhew used the Farmers card four more times - in Cromwell on December 26, in Alexandra on December 27, and twice more in Cromwell on December 28 last year.

On January 8, she entered a premises on Willis Street with the intent to commit an offence and used a bank card that did not belong to her.

On January 16, Mayhew entered two further Ashburton premises with the intent to commit an offence.

And on January 17, she entered a bedroom with the intent to commit an offence and fraudulently used a bank card.

Mayhew was found in possession of a meth pipe on January 19.

Judge O'Driscoll ordered a drug and alcohol assessment and a reparation report.

Mayhew will appear for sentencing on June 17.

Medicinal cannabis

Mixing alcohol with medicinal cannabis did not end well for a Southbridge resident.

Skye Cora Taylor, 23, was driving home from work on December 21 last year at 5.30pm when she lost control of her vehicle on Line Road in Lyndhurst. Her car flipped in a gorse hedge and landed in an irrigation ditch.

She was charged with careless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol and cannabis. A blood test showed she had 61mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood and a high-risk level of cannabis.

Duty lawyer Claire Yardley said Taylor was using prescribed medicinal cannabis to manage pain from a back injury from playing rugby.

Her medical advisers told her to take her cannabis at night and gave no caution about driving the next day.

Yardley said it was unusual for Taylor to combine both substances, and she was lucky to escape unscathed from the serious accident.

"It's a warning for people on medical cannabis," Yardley said.

Judge O'Driscoll convicted Taylor, gave her an alcohol interlock sentence and fined her $500 plus court costs of $130.

Threaten to kill

A Rakaia man who got into an argument while on holiday in Wairoa has been given a community work sentence for threatening to kill.

Oneone Teariki Ranginui, 37, pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening to kill on October 29 last year in Wairoa and a charge of failing to appear in court on December 11, 2023.

Lawyer Jennifer North said Ranginui and his partner had gone to Wairoa to visit the victim, but they ended up arguing over Ranginui's partner.

He had since apologised to the victim, North said.

Judge O'Driscoll said Ranginui had a relatively short list of previous convictions, with one relevant matter from more than 20 years ago.

Ranginui was sentenced to 80 hours' community work.

Assault, intentional damage

Netherby woman Candice Joan Gordon, 35, admitted charges of assault and intentionally damaging a vehicle on December 3, 2023.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Stuart Whyte said reparation of $400 was sought for the damaged car.

Judge O'Driscoll made a referral for a restorative justice conference and remanded Gordon for sentencing on May 20.

Drink driving

A man caught drink driving in Wellington was fined and disqualified from driving in the Ashburton District Court.

Ankit Singla was stopped by police in Wellington on October 21 last year. He blew 462 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.

Duty lawyer Claire Yardley said Singla had initially planned to apply for a discharge without conviction but had since abandoned the application. She said it was Singla's first offence and asked the judge to impose a fine and the minimum disqualification.

Singla was fined $400 plus court costs and disqualified from driving for six months.

One last chance

A 31-year-old Allenton woman narrowly avoided losing her car and further disqualification for driving while disqualified.

Judge O'Driscoll gave Dwana Timutimu "one last chance" when she appeared for sentencing for driving while disqualified on Farm Road on November 22 last year.

Lawyer Gretchen Hart said Timutimu decided to drive because her young son was upset and asked her to fetch him.

Hart requested a community-based sentence and asked the judge not to order the confiscation of Timutimu's car, which she needed to take her son to school.

Hart said Timutimu had breached community work in the past when Timutimu described herself as “young and dumb”.

Judge O'Driscoll said Timutimu was disqualified from driving on October 2 last year on a charge of sustained loss of traction - and drove shortly after she was disqualified.

"You are pretty close to losing the car and being disqualified. I am prepared to give you a chance and not disqualify you or confiscate your vehicle."

He sentenced her to a total of 80 hours' community work.

"You will lose everything if you come before the court again on driving matters," the judge said.

Driving charges admitted

Joshua Brinsdon, 19, pleaded guilty to three driving charges after his speed drew the attention of police.

He was charged with speeding, failing to stop for the police, and driving while disqualified on State Highway 1 on January 6

Judge O'Driscoll said this was Brinsdon's third conviction for failing to stop for the police and requested pre-sentencing reports.

Brinsdon will appear again on May 6 for sentencing.

Warrants issued

Judge O'Driscoll issues two arrest warrants for people who failed to appear in court.

Jaden Eric Cromie, 35, failed to appear on charges of damaging a Westpac ATM and possessing an offensive weapon.

Richard Jackson Bishop, 24, asked to be excused from court on driving charges because he had Covid-19. Judge O'Driscoll issued a warrant that is to lie in court until March 26 to give Bishop a chance to report to court or send proof that he has Covid.

By Sharon Davis