Digger thief gets work sentence

An 18-year-old Invercargill man who unlawfully took a digger and used it to dig a hole in a stranger's section for some fun instead dug himself into trouble when he appeared in the Invercargill District Court yesterday.

Fabian Joshua Davis admitted unlawfully taking the $14,000 digger and intentionally damaging the section on February 4, when he appeared before Judge Gary MacAskill.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Penny Stratford said Davis took the digger after starting the ignition using a modified fork.

The digger was taken to a nearby section and Davis and a friend took turns digging a hole. Davis told police he dug the hole because he had a digger, Mrs Stratford said.

The case caused mirth in the courtroom, with Judge MacAskill joking the entertainment value could be a mitigating factor, while Davis' lawyer John Fraser also joked. "Obviously, his dreams of a large sandpit haven't been realised," he said.

Davis was sentenced to 60 hours' community work.

Assault
Aaron Timothy McLeod, 19, of Makarewa, was sentenced to nine months' supervision for assaulting his pregnant girlfriend at Makarewa on November 14.

Simon Joseph Kane, 36, mill hand, of Winton, was sentenced to nine months' supervision for assaulting a female and convicted and discharged for damaging a house and breaching a protection order at Winton on October 18.

Chanel Ann Baker, 30, was fined $250 for assaulting her ex-partner's new girlfriend on January 31.

Darryl James Morton, 45, truck driver, was fined $1600 and disqualified from driving for eight months for assaulting two people, and driving with a breath alcohol level of 911mcg on February 2.

Jason Herewini Ratima, 37, shearer, of Thomsons Crossing, will be sentenced on April 20 for assaulting two people at Winton on January 24.

Weapons
Gary James Paddon, 17, was sentenced to 150 hours' community work, nine months' supervision, disqualified from driving for six months, and ordered to pay $20 reparation for a variety of offences, including possession of a knife in public, disorderly behaviour, possession of utensils, driving while disqualified, wilful damage, possession of an offensive weapon, and theft. Most of the offences occurred between September and January.

Cody Blair Beck, 24, shearer, of Winton, admitted possessing a firearm without a licence at Winton on February 1. He was convicted and an order was made for the destruction of the firearm.

Stealing
Ratana George West, 45, plumber of Greenhills, was convicted and discharged for stealing a packet of coffee valued at $2.15 on February 2.

Mr Fraser said West had budgeted for his groceries but found he was 50c short before deciding to take the coffee.

Breach
Juan Campbell Officer, 22, of Bluff, was sentenced to three months' community detention for breaching his community work on May 10 and November 7.

Angela Summers was sentenced to 40 hours' community work for breaching her community work twice.

Joshua McKee, 21, labourer, was sentenced to 50 hours' community work for breaching his community work on September 18 and ordered to pay $4353.75 reparation and disqualified from driving for 12 months for driving dangerously on December 3.

Cannabis
Peter Thomas Holmes, 28, student, was sentenced to 150 hours' community work for possessing cannabis for supply on February 2.

Jordon Shane Reynolds, 18, of Otapiri, was sentenced to 40 hours' community work for possessing cannabis on January 16.

Intentional damage
Natasha Rochelle Oneil, 26, was ordered to pay $808 reparation for intentionally damaging car tyres, and convicted for unlawfully possessing a knife in public on January 22. An order was made for the destruction of the knife.

Megan Sara Greenfield, 19, of Mossburn, was fined $500 and ordered to pay $305 repara-tion for intentionally damaging a motor vehicle on December 20.

Driving
Michael John Williams, 59, manager, was fined $750 and disqualified from driving for six months for driving while disqualified on January 6.

Robin Kamira Martin, 47, chef, of Owaka, was fined $600 and disqualified for six months for driving while disqualified at Timaru on January 9.

Craig Warren Allan, 19, was fined $600 and disqualified for six months for speeding 80kmh in a 50kmh zone on December 19.

Christopher Douglas Ralston, 31, meatworker, was sentenced to 60 hours' community work and disqualified for six months for driving while disqualified on January 2.

Jacob William Bootsma, 20, dairy worker, of Winton, was sentenced to 120 hours' community work and disqualified for 12 months for driving a vehicle in a manner that caused it to undergo sustained loss of traction and driving with a breath alcohol level of 549mcg on January 30.

Christopher Henry Edwards, 19, machine operator, was sentenced to 120 hours' community work, disqualified for 12 months, and ordered to pay $595.49 reparation for driving while disqualified and driving dangerously on February 1.

Nathan Peter Hussey, 20, dairyworker, of Twinlaw, was sentenced to 120 hours' community work and disqualified for 12 months for driving dangerously and while disqualified at Otautau on December 17.

Hamish Gene Linwood, 20, labourer, was sentenced to 100 hours' community work and disqualified for nine months for sustained loss of traction and driving dangerously on January 27.

Reuben Joseph Spriggs, 17, mechanic, was fined $1200 and disqualified for 12 months for driving in an unnecessary exhibition of speed and failing to stop for a vehicle displaying flashing red and blue lights on January 30.

Drink-driving
Simonne Marie Brown, 26, was fined $650 and disqualified from driving for six months for driving with a breath alcohol level of 506mcg on January 1.

Daniel John Harpur, 26, mill hand, 672mcg on January 24. Fined $800 and disqualified for six months.

Adam David Mitchell, 17, of Otautau, 361mcg (person under 20) at Winton on January 8. Fined $500 and disqualified for three months.

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