City hire firm fined $3000

An Invercargill  business was yesterday fined $3000 for committing a criminal nuisance after one of its horse floats broke free from the towing vehicle because it was fitted with the wrong-sized shackle.

Invercargill District Court Judge Kevin Phillips fined Waikiwi Motors $3000 and ordered it to pay $1000 emotional harm reparation to each of two victims for committing the criminal nuisance by supplying the wrong-sized trailer shackle with one of its hire horse floats on September 17.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Glen McMurdo said the company hired out a tandem-axle horse float, fitting it with a safety chain and shackle. The float required a shackle capable of securing more than 3000kg. Instead, the company provided a shackle capable of securing only 500kg, he said.

The float was towed towards Winton, where it separated from the towing vehicle and struck another vehicle, Mr McMurdo said. No-one was injured in the collision.

Lawyer Richard Smith said the company had since replaced the smaller shackles with larger ones.

Judge Phillips said using the wrong-sized shackle was "an accident waiting to happen".

Offensive weapon
Scott Michael Low, 21, of Gore, will be sentenced on June 8 for possessing an offensive weapon, n a wooden pole, and behaving in a disorderly manner likely to cause violence against persons to continue, at Gore on March 14.

Assault
Christopher Douglas Ralston, 31, meat worker, was sentenced to 70 hours' community work for assaulting a female on February 21.

Shaana Jamie Te Tua, 21, was sentenced to 40 hours' community work and ordered to pay $250 emotional harm reparation for assaulting a woman on January 1.

Kaleb Jeremy Hunter, 29, was sentenced to one month's jail for assaulting a prison nurse on February 23.

Cannabis
Nathan John Dallas, 32, meat worker, of Riverton, was sentenced to 60 hours' community work for cultivating cannabis at Riverton on February 24.

Intentional damage
Jema Brown, 17, of Riverton, was remanded on bail to June 8 for sentence for damaging two cars at Ashburton on January 27.

Murray Wilson Whakamoe, 47, was ordered to pay $1200 reparation for intentionally damaging a cell door, and fined $250 for breaching the liquor ban on March 11.

Justis Tuapawa-OKane was sentenced to 40 hours' community work and ordered to pay $392.62 reparation for intentionally damaging a barrier arm at a Queenstown carpark on March 6 and convicted and discharged for behaving in a disorderly manner, the same day.

Unlawful taking
Manuel Chas Junior Haami, 20, was sentenced to nine months' supervision and 50 hours' community work for unlawfully taking a bicycle at Christchurch on February 16, ordered to pay $85 reparation for intentionally damaging an indicator light on March 15, and fined $300 for disorderly behaviour.

Theft
Shannon William Paul Dee, 20, was remanded in custody to June 1 for sentence for stealing a toolbox valued at $500.

Trespass
Kevin Young, 32, beneficiary, was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within nine months for trespass on February 9.

Davis Milton Te Kani, 32, of Tuatapere, was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months for trespass on March 11.

Breach
Steven Michael Whelan, 23, was sentenced to nine months' jail when he appeared for sentence for breaching home detention on November 28, and for resentence for driving dangerously, drink-driving and breaching community work.

Glenn Robert Marshall, 30, of Cromwell, was sentenced to two months' jail for breaching community work at Cromwell on October 3.

Joseph Michael Emmerson, 33, was sentenced to 40 hours' community work for breaching community work on February 9.

Steven John Pearson, 22, was convicted and discharged for breaching community work on February 2.

Ordette Dawson was remanded on bail to April 1 for sentence for breaching community work on January 11.

Driving
Jessie James Mathews, 19, was sentenced to 100 hours' community work, disqualified from driving for nine months, and ordered to pay $300 reparation for driving while impaired, driving contrary to the condition of his learner licence, and sustained loss of traction on December 27, and stealing a PlayStation on July 31.

Jeremy Noel Daken, 23, was sentenced to 80 hours' community work and disqualified for eight months for operating a vehicle in a manner that caused it to undergo sustained loss of traction on February 6.

Graham William Gray, 19, farm worker, was sentenced to 70 hours' community work and disqualified for six months for driving with a breath alcohol level of 632mcg on March 9, and convicted and discharged for driving carelessly on the same day.

Jade Colin Kurt Matthews-Fisher, 18, was sentenced to 40 hours' community work and disqualified for six months for driving while disqualified on March 9.

Drink-driving
Adam Lindsay Hunter, 19, was sentenced to 60 hours' community work and disqualified for six months for driving with a breath alcohol level of 372mcg on February 28.

Nash Ngahiri Apiata, 20, meat worker, 477mcg on March 10. Sentenced to 60 hours' community work and disqualified for six months.

Jason Peter Vaughan, 38, plasterer, 490mcg on October 29. Remanded on bail to May 20 for sentence.

Atavea Norman Te Katu, 53, dairy worker, of Nightcaps, was sentenced to 200 hours' community work and disqualified for 15 months for driving with a blood alcohol level of 88mg on July 12.

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