Outburst brings apology

BY FELICITY ROSS

A man who was put into court cells after raising an objection to a sentence of community work has apologised in an effort to stay out of jail.

Bobby Joseph Taylor, 23, was given 100 hours community work in the New Plymouth District Court yesterday after he admitted assaulting his partner.

The court heard how Taylor struck his partner then held his fist against her chin and threatened to punch her in the head.

Upon sentence Judge Allan Roberts told Taylor his partner was off limits to which Taylor replied "how?"

"In the respect you are not to punch her."

As Taylor left the court room he muttered he would not be completing the community work hours.

Judge Roberts ordered Taylor to stand back in the dock and dared him to say it again.

"You are a women beater," the judge told Taylor.

"No I'm not."

"Yes you are."

Judge Roberts stood Taylor down in custody for several hours telling him to think about an apology or receive a harsher sentence for the assault.

When Taylor reappeared he apologised to Judge Roberts and said he had been angry at the sentence of community work.

A woman who lost her temper over another woman texting her partner has been given community work.

On July 14, Nikki Waimatou Maree Marshall, 29, had been drinking with friends when she went to a Waitara address to confront a woman who had been contacting her boyfriend at all hours of the night. Marshall then punched the woman in the right eye and was later arrested by police.

Defence counsel Grant Vosseler said Marshall never intended to go and confront the victim. She had wanted to talk to her but had lost her temper and struck out.

Mr Vosseler said Marshall wanted to pay a fine instead of attending community work as she had children to care for.

Judge Roberts said Marshall was not in a position to pay a fine as she received a benefit.

"If she has parental duties then what is she doing out on the ran-tan at 2.15 in the morning? She should have thought about the consequences before she hit her," Judge Roberts said.

Marshall was sentenced to 65 hours of community work.

Stealing 100 litres of diesel for a car he wasn't supposed to be driving landed Bronson Mario Macionce with a final warning.

The 20-year-old admitted a charge of burglary and another of driving while disqualified when he appeared in court yesterday.

Macionce, along with an associate, drove on to a farmer's property in Stratford and siphoned the diesel from his tank. In explanation Macionce said his friend had been too drunk to drive so he took the wheel, despite being disqualified from driving until December this year. He has six previous convictions for disqualified driving.

"You got out of jail in May and within two months are back to your old tricks," Judge Roberts said.

He sentenced Macionce to 160 hours community work for driving while disqualified and a further 40 hours for the burglary. "This is your final warning. Breach this sentence and go back to jail. Your pedigree will out you at the end of the day."

Macionce was also disqualified from driving for a further 15 months from December 10.

A former stunt actor on a sickness benefit was told if he wasn't too sick to drink then he could do community work.

Zakir Sultonov, 42, was given 100 hours community work after he pleaded guilty to a charge of drunk driving.

Sultonov blew a reading of 778mg. The legal limit is 400mg.

The former Ukrainian native worked as a stunt actor in Auckland up until two years ago when he broke his neck. He has since been recovering and has been receiving a sickness benefit. Judge Roberts noted: "He is on a sickness benefit but he can still drink."

Sultonov was disqualified from driving for six months.

- © Fairfax NZ News