A Methven man who took a spanner to a man’s car appeared in the Ashburton District Court.

Jordan Teihoka Barry Philp, 25, pleaded guilty to intentionally damaging a vehicle and assaulting a man.

Philp encountered the victim in Methven and “had a bone to pick with him,” the court heard.

Armed with a spanner, he approached the victim’s car and damaged the vehicle.

He proceeded to punch the victim’s hand and hit him elsewhere with the spanner.

After the assault, Philp threatened the victim by saying he’d cause further harm if the police became involved.

“You could’ve killed the man,” judge Savage told Philp.

“If you’d used the spanner instead of your hand, you’d be in the lap of the gods.”

He told Philp it was the sort of attack that could have landed Philip in prison, and could have “stuffed up” the rest of his life.

“If you’d gone to prison, you’d have had to form alliances to stay alive.

"I'm prepared to accept that you’re remorseful for what you did to this guy, but you’re really gambling with two lives when you embark on a course like this.”

Savage sentenced him to seven months of home detention.

“Please don’t feel hard done by because you have to spend seven months at home, you’re really really lucky.”

Drink driver “doesn’t care”

Jared Dean Mcdougall, 25, had been stopped driving while disqualified and refusing to blow a police breath test.

Judge Savage was concerned about Mcdougall’s recent history with the courts.

“The defendant's first charge arose a year ago, and now he’s up to number five.

“You got to stop your drink driving.”

He said Mcdougall “doesn't care” about his offending according to the summary of facts.

“You don’t care about drinking and driving?” Savage asked.

“I’ve drunk about three times in the last three year,” Mcdougall replied.

The man had other court matters running in Christchurch, so Savage put them off to be dealt with all at once in the city’s court.

“You seem to have worked out what the link between you drinking and appearing in court is,” he told Mcdougall as he left the stand.

A “180” with his life

Brook Michael Warena, 31, was facing charges of burglary and common assault after an incident in August.

Judge Savage was initially not impressed by Warena’s appearance as he had a track record with the courts both here and in Australia.

“It’s a domestic burglary when he bashed the homeowner.”

Warena had struggled with a drug addiction on and off, but had “done a 180” with his life, his lawyer told Savage.

He had moved away from a bad crowd, become a dairy worker, and started attending a church.

He’d also split with his partner who was struggling to stop using drugs.

“He now has a pro-social lifestyle.”

Savage turned to Warena and addressed him directly.

“I’ve practiced criminal law for decades - for some people, their [rehabilitation] progress is like a spider climbing a wall.

“When did you last use meth?”

“I’ve slipped up maybe 4 times this year,” Warena answered.

“It's not easy, I’ve been using since I was 17.”

Savage said it seemed Warena was “walking the walk” out of addiction and the court records didn’t reflect the man he had become.

“Despite what it looks like, Mr. Warena has made steps to improve his situation.

“I don't want to be the one standing in front of you, preventing you from making progress.”

Savage set Warena for sentencing later this year, asking for evidence of his new life path to be filed, and allowing time for restorative justice processes to be pursued.

“Thank you for being so candid Mr. Warena.”

“Does whatever he wants”

An Ashburton man with a growing list of offences was warned to take responsibility for his actions.

Niko James Simonsen, 26, was in court for charges of careless driving, breaching supervision and obtaining items by deception.

Jude Savage said Simonsen had continued to offend despite the building record.

“It seems this man does whatever he wants, whenever he wants.

“Clearly there’s a lot going on in this young man’s life; there’s a lot he needs to take responsibility for.”

Savage sentenced Simonsen to 12 months of supervision, three months of community detention and ordered $1800 of reparations for stolen goods be repaid to the victims.

Drink driving on alcohol licence

Ashburton man Matthew Ranson, 29, was in court after being caught drink driving on a zero alcohol licence.

Lawyer Grant Fletcher said he’d had a difficult few years but his life was on the up.

“In time, with maturity, a new relationship and new employment has helped to stabilize him.”

Ranson has started working as a solar panel installer for a number of plants in the region.

“The future for him will be a lot more stable.”

Judge Savage said Ranson’s record on the road wasn’t doing him favours.

“With your history, you put yourself in danger, and everyone else.”

He convicted Ranson and sentenced him to four months of community detention, 12 months of supervision and re-subjected him to a driving disqualification and alcohol interlock.

“You’d be a fool to breach [your licence] again.”

Rehabilitation “not easy”

A repeat offender from Allenton was given some words of advice by a compassionate judge.

Nakeisha Bianca Henare, 31, appeared on seven separate theft charges.

Lawyer Cory Shaw said while the thefts were somewhat regular, they were born from need.

“It’s quite clear that it's not vanity items, it’s things like food, essential items.”

Judge Savage said Henare’s case was becoming harder to deal with as she reoffended.

“She’s got $10,000 in fines.”

He noted she was also battling an addiction which was the cause of much of the offending.

“I can tell that you are trying, but I can also tell that you’re slipping up.

“I don’t for a second believe that it's easy.

“Keep trying, ‘cause if you don’t, the quality of your life will be lesser.”

He said reparations were not a realistic punishment for Henare, and sentenced her instead to 12 months of intensive supervision.

“One day you’ll look over a lengthy period where you haven’t done drugs, and you’ll be better physically.”

Car crashed by inhibited driver

Trinity’Lee Juliette Grey, 23, faced a charge of careless driving under the influence.

The summary of facts was not shared in court, but judge Savage said it was “not a happy read.”

He said the costs of reparations to the various victims was likely an “eye watering amount of money,” and said one of the victims was a close friend.

“There’re a few pieces that need to be untangled.”

He said Grey was a vulnerable young woman and her case needed to be managed carefully.

She will be sentenced in the Ashburton District Court in January.

Assault case adjourned

A Netherby man will be back in court next year to face his assault case.

Steven Palavi, 18, was in court on an assault charge, but lawyer Gretchen Hart asked for an adjournment.

She asked Judge Savage for time to enter a discharge without conviction application.

He said Palavi had his “work cut out” in making the application.

The case was adjourned for submissions and will reconvene in February.