Judge tells cyclist who kicked cars to pay for damage

A Hamilton man who harassed city motorists and attacked their vehicles has been ordered to pay more than $2600 in reparation.

Jamie Curtis Pene, an unemployed 36-year-old, pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening behaviour and two charges of wilful damage when he appeared in the Hamilton District Court yesterday.

The court heard how on three separate occasions this year, Pene tried to intimidate drivers while riding his bicycle.

On May 26, Pene was cycling through the intersection of Ulster St and Mill St in Hamilton when he became involved in a disagreement with a motorist. During the confrontation, Pene kicked the victim's car, causing significant panel damage. He later told police he had acted "in a fit of rage".

Then on June 8, Pene was cycling along Hamilton's Grey St when he began closely following a motorist.

The court heard how Pene spat on the victim's car and punched and kicked the vehicle's door. He continued to follow the motorist on his bike before chasing the car on foot along Hood St.

The following week, in Claudelands, Pene tried to kick a car as it drove past.

Community Magistrate Gary Moltzen noted Pene's "stack of previous convictions" and ordered him to pay reparation totalling $2654.25 and $130 court costs. He was also ordered to come up for sentencing if called upon within the next 12 months.

"You can't go around kicking people's doors, even if you don't like the person, but I don't know if you even know these people," Mr Moltzen said.

A 34-year-old unemployed Hamilton woman caught stealing a donation box, set aside for brain injury sufferers, later told police she had been sniffing solvents and "was out of it".

Favono Rahera Nohe pleaded guilty when she appeared in the Hamilton District Court on charges of shoplifting and theft. On June 5 Nohe tried to steal a donation box from inside the ASB Bank on Victoria St and on July 14 tried to take a spray can from a Frankton store. Mr Moltzen convicted Nohe and remanded her on bail to appear for sentencing on August 12.