A man who horrified witnesses with his "unbelievably bad driving" told police he knew it was a dumb thing to do but decided to go for it, Gore District Court was told last week.

Alister John Landsdell, 23, labourer, of Pukerau, appeared before Judge Kevin Phillips for driving dangerously on July 31.

He was sentenced to 70 hours' community work and disqualified from driving for eight months.

Judge Phillips said Landsdell was driving north when he approached north and south passing lanes.

A truck moved into the left slow lane while two other vehicles, also in front of Landsdell, pulled into the fast lane to overtake, he said.

Landsdell crossed double yellow lines and overtook both vehicles, using the outside lane of the southbound passing lane, he said.

He drove on the wrong side of the road at speed and a vehicle travelling south had to take evasive action to avoid a head-on collision, Judge Phillips said.

Road users were horrified and called police, he said.

Landsdell told police he should not have done it and knew it was dumb but decided to go for it, he said.

Judge Phillips said he had placed himself and all other road users at high risk of a serious accident or injury.

"This was unbelievably bad driving."

Assault
Sharne Elizabeth Smith, 21, of Mataura, was ordered to come up for sentence within nine months if called upon for assault and behaving in a disorderly manner likely to cause violence at Mataura on July 31.

Jackie Makoro Tahuri, 60, shearer, was remanded to October 17 for sentence for two charges of assaulting a female on June 28 and 29.

Shawna Mae Palmer, 28, was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within nine months for assault on August 13.

Intentional damage
Christopher Trevor Penson, 19, farm worker, of Diamond Peak, was ordered to pay $195.50 reparation for intentionally damaging a vehicle on April 29.

Cannabis
Joshua David McLaren, 18, labourer, was remanded to October 17 for sentence for offering to supply cannabis to a person under the age of 18, three charges of offering to supply cannabis to a person over 18 and one charge of selling cannabis to a person over 18 between May 9 and 19, receiving a temporary traffic sign valued at $100 knowing it to have been stolen and possessing utensils on July 18. The court was told he had used his cellphone to facilitate numerous drug deals with various associates.

Theft
Brett William Williams, 33, was sentenced to nine months' jail, ordered to pay reparation and disqualified for six months for six charges of stealing petrol valued at a total of $1150, one charge of stealing a quad bike valued at $1500, three charges of stealing tools valued at a total of $2680, two charges of burglary, two charges of intentional damage, which included a metal cabinet, an electric fence unit and three bags of magnesium and receiving a motorcycle valued at $300 knowing it had been stolen. All offending occurred between April 1 and May 27.

Scott Matthew Richardson, 17, of Wairuna, was sentenced to four months' community detention, 150 hours' community work and ordered to pay reparation for six charges of stealing petrol valued at a total of $1150, one charge of stealing a quad bike valued at $1500, three charges of stealing tools valued at a total of $2680, two charges of burglary, two charges of intentional damage, which included a metal cabinet, electric fence unit and three bags of magnesium and unlawfully taking a motorcycle. All offending occurred at Clinton, Milton and Waikaka between April 1 and May 27.

Possession of firearm
Daniel Stanley Ross, 34, farm worker, of Pine Bush, was fined $300 for possessing a firearm, namely a pump action shotgun, without a licence on July 6.

Breach
Vincent Nahu, 23, was sentenced to 60 hours' community work for breaching community work on June 2.

Levi Graham Clayton, 20, was convicted and discharged for two charges of breaching community work on June 23 and 30.

Martin Te Hau, 49, was remanded to September 27 for compliance for breaching community work on March 28.

James William Philp, 18, of Mataura, was convicted and discharged for breaching community work on July 28.

Hirini Tariho Raihania Waititi, 36, butcher, of Mataura, was sentenced to four months' jail and disqualified for one year and three months for breaching supervision on March 20, driving with a breath alcohol level of 581mcg on February 4 and re-sentenced for importing cannabis seed last year.

Robert Lee Thompson, 39, was remanded to August 24 after he admitted two charges of breaching home detention on July 17 and August 3.

Driving
Shayde Palmer-King, 23, shearer, was sentenced to 100 hours' community work and disqualified for one year and one day for driving while suspended on June 21.

Benjamin Marcus Paterson, 18, farm worker, was sentenced to 60 hours' community work and disqualified for six months for driving while disqualified on July 3.

Logan James Phillipson, 32, meat worker, was remanded to September 27 for sentence for intentionally damaging a vehicle on June 2 and driving with a breath alcohol level of 577mcg on July 14.

Anaru Kotuhi, 26, meat worker, of Mataura, was remanded to September 27 for sentence for driving while disqualified at Mataura on August 9.

Dylan Karl Shuttleworth-Johnston, 17, was sentenced to 60 hours' community work and disqualified for seven months for driving while suspended and with a breath alcohol level of 455mcg on August 12.

Drink-driving
Lucas Blair Roughan, 19, linesperson, was fined $800 and disqualified for seven months for driving with a breath alcohol level of 794mcg on July 29.

Ben Victor Cowan, 27, of Tuturau, 862mcg at Mataura on July 28. Sentenced to 200 hours' community work, 12 months' supervision and disqualified for 11 months.

Holly Elizabeth Pearson, 17, shop assistant, of Whiterigg, 708mcg on July 28. Fined $700 and disqualified for seven months.

Trevor John Horton, 52, shearer, of Wyndham, 582mcg at Edendale on July 29. Sentenced to 120 hours' community work and disqualified for one year and one month.

Jared Bryce McKenzie, 24, shearer, was fined $700 and disqualified for seven months for driving with a blood alcohol level of 181mg at Waikaka on July 8.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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