Riverton woman punched son, 4, in the mouth

A Riverton woman punched her four-year-old child in the mouth because she "could not handle him", the Invercargill District Court was told yesterday.

Michelle Tapuauruwai Tuhakaraina, 40, unemployed, of Riverton, appeared before Judge Kevin Phillips charged with assaulting her son on October 25 at Riverton.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Rob Mills said Tuhakaraina, her husband and three of their children drove to the Taramea Bay dairy for an ice cream. While the husband was inside the dairy, one of the children complained about feeling sick, Mr Mills said.

Tuhakaraina punched the child in the mouth with a fist, he said. When she realised passers-by had seen what happened, Tuhakaraina's explantation was "she could not handle him", Mr Mills said.

Mr Mills said Tuhakaraina had appeared before the court on similar matters before, but this was the first time a child had been assaulted with intent.

Judge Phillips remanded Tuhakaraina on bail to February 23 for sentence.

Assault
Shan Norton McLauchlan, 21, dairy worker, of Mataura Island, will be sentenced on February 16 for assaulting a female on July 26 at Wyndham.

Danielle Renee Peat, 17, student, will be sentenced on February 19 for assault and injuring with intent on April 24.

Jeffery John Walters, 43, childcare worker, was sentenced to 100 hours' community work and nine months' supervision for assault on November 9.

Theft
Krystal Thomson, 21, beneficiary, was sentenced to 40 hours' community work for stealing moisturiser and chocolate valued at $39.28 from Pak 'n Save on October 3 at Dunedin.

Ricky Allan Scobie, 27, unemployed, was sentenced to 50 hours' community work, ordered to pay $40 reparation and disqualified from driving for three months for stealing $40 petrol on October 4.

Drugs
Abraham Edward Wood, 36, unemployed, of Ohai, was fined $500 for possessing cannabis and cannabis oil on October 14 at Ohai.

Intentional damage
Kincaid James O'Connor, 17, dairy worker, of Winton, will be sentenced on January 27 for intentional damage, disorderly behaviour and being found without reasonable excuse in a yard on October 7 at Winton; driving while disqualified and with a breath alcohol level of 450mcg on October 24 at Drummond and breaching community work on October 1.

Nicholas Justin Reid, 17, sawmiller, of Tuatapere, will be sentenced on February 19 after he admitted five charges of intentional damage and one of committing a criminal nuisance by towing a wire rope on a public road between August 30 and October 1 at Tuatapere.

Dean Justin Friend, 17, bushman, of Rowallan, will be sentenced on February 19 after he admitted four charges of intentional damage and one of committing a criminal nuisance by towing a wire rope along a public road on October 1 at Tuatapere.

Izrael Ivor Walker, 18, Southport worker, of Bluff, was sentenced to 250 hours' community work and ordered to pay $870 reparation for intentional damage on November 7.

Burglary
Jamie Bruce Brown, 18, student, will be sentenced on February 23 for burglary on November 5.

Paul Darryl Thompson, 18, farm worker, was sentenced to 75 hours' community work for burglary on November 5.

Stevie-Rae Blomfield Webber, 23, unemployed, was sentenced to 75 hours' community work and disqualified from driving for four months for burglary on November 5.

Disorderly behaviour
Trevor Jay Gutsell, 20, sickness beneficiary, was sentenced to 75 hours' community work for disorderly behaviour likely to cause violence and resisting police on October 18.

Jamie Brian Ruddell, 25, unemployed, was sentenced to 90 hours' community work for disorderly behaviour likely to cause violence on November 6 at Gore and intentional damage on November 13.

Offensive weapon
Aaron Hill, 33, was sentenced to 150 hours' community work for possessing an offensive weapon, namely a samurai sword, on October 23.

Breach
Francene Omega Sothern, 36, was sentenced to 50 hours' community work for breaching community work on October 10. She was also convicted and discharged for breaching supervision on September 23.

Michael James Lamont, 42, insurance broker, was sentenced to 10 months' home detention for breaching a protection order on February 8 and 16.

Kenneth John Butler, 25, fish worker, will be sentenced on February 23 for breaching community work on September 12.

Ariana Maraea Johnathan, 21, had her community work sentenced cancelled and replaced with a sentence of three months' jail for breaching community work on May 2 and breaching supervision on July 16.

Driving
Loguen Hannah Malcolm, 20, mother, was sentenced to 180 hours' community work and disqualified from driving for 12 months for driving carelessly on July 12. She was convicted and discharged for driving with a blood alcohol level of 140mg on the same day.

Scott Michael Mainland, 18, dairy worker, of Opio, was fined $400 and disqualified for six months for wheel spinning on October 24.

Jordon Andrew Scott, 17, was sentenced to 40 hours' community work and disqualified for six months for driving while disqualified on October 25.

Shanan Paul Bryan, 18, labourer, was sentenced to 50 hours' community work and disqualified for eight months for dangerous driving on October 23.

Ryan John Feely, 18, was disqualified for six months for driving while disqualified on October 16.

Crystina Jade Lawson was sentenced to 40 hours' community work and disqualified for six months for driving while suspended on October 10.

Willie Cameron, 30, herd manager, was fined $750 and disqualified for eight months for driving while disqualified on September 16.

Alan Antony Ebyarima, 19, was fined $750 and disqualified for eight months for driving while disqualified on September 4.

Fea James Kamosie, 17, unemployed, was sentenced to 50 hours' community work and disqualified for nine months for driving while disqualified on October 3.

Simon Eugene Palmer, 24, unemployed, was sentenced to 150 hours' community work, disqualified for nine months and ordered to pay $112 reparation for reckless driving and failing to stop for red and blue flashing lights on September 16.

Duane Twiss, 30, was convicted and remanded for sentence on February 19 for careless driving and driving with a breath alcohol level of 1111mcg on October 24.

Gordon McKevitt, 24, was fined $1000 for careless driving and driving with a breath alcohol level of 837mcg at Winton on November 8.

Drink-driving
Benjamin Rattray, 31, of Winton, was fined $775 and disqualified for six months for driving with a breath alcohol level of 722mcg on November 8.

- © Fairfax NZ News