Grow up says judge

An unemployed teenager has been told to grow up and start acting like a man, after kicking tombstones and frightening two young women after a quarrel with his grandfather.

Lewis Allan, 19, unemployed, from Palmerston North, was seen by two young women kicking tombstones and swearing loudly in the cemetery in Old Napier Rd at 8.10pm on November 27, Palmerston North District Court was told yesterday.

He left the cemetery at one point, walking quickly across the road into a property, where he grabbed a large piece of wood, half a metre long.

The women walked up Old Napier Rd toward Vogel St, and Allan followed.

As he did, he took his shirt off and wrapped it around the piece of wood. He then smacked power poles with it while yelling aggressively. Once he got within 50m of the women, he began running towards them, which caused them to flee.

They sought refuge at a nearby property and Allan ran past.

When police found him later that evening, he told them he was angry after an argument with his grandfather.

He claimed he was not chasing the women, and said he would never hit a female.

The piece of wood was for protection, he said.

Defence lawyer Mike Ryan said a piece of wood was not an offensive weapon on its own, but it depended on how it was used. Allan was not chasing the women, but running to see a friend, he said.

Judge Gregory Ross said Allan should stop behaving like a child. "Don't have your tantrums in a public place."

Allan was sentenced to 50 hours' community work and fined $250 for breaching the liquor ban earlier that evening.

- © Fairfax NZ News