A man from Netherby has been told to “grow up” by a judge after he attempted to flee police.
Johnathan Kiriama Phoenix Davis, 20, pleaded guilty to drink driving when he appeared in the Ashburton District Court this week.
Davis had been at a party with a friend on July 7, who walked back to Davis’ house when the party became boring.
Despite having consumed alcohol, Davis offered to drop his friend home.
His driving was dangerous enough for police to flick on the sirens, but despite that, Davis kept driving.
Lawyer Tiffany McRae said Davis accepted his decision to outrun the police was stupid, panicked, and made in the heat of the moment.
Judge Campbell Savage had some strong words for Davis.
“Do you know how many people get killed every year trying to get away from the police? Heaps.
“You can’t get away with stuff like that.”
Davis was charged with dangerous driving, failing to stop when police activated their sirens, and for blowing over 400 micrograms of breath alcohol while in the driver’s seat.
He has been ordered to pay a $400 fine, and is disqualified from driving for a year.
“You’ve got twelve months off the road,” Judge Savage said. “Time to grow up.”
Machetes and air rifle
Michael Wayne Overand, 58, was charged with possession of offensive weapons, a cannabis utensil and for unlawfully owning a gun.
Lawyer Cory Shaw told Judge Savage that Overand used machetes, knives and an air rifle when he hunted rabbits.
Shaw said Overand was an avid eel hunter, and would use the rabbits he shot as bait.
Overand had gone into a shop to get groceries and had left the weapons unattended in his car.
Shaw said it was an unfortunate situation.
Savage ordered Overand to complete 100 hours of community work, and ordered the destruction of the weapons.
Driving despite the sirens
A young man’s drink driving habits have been described as “quite frightening” by a judge.
Richard Jackson Bishop, 24, pleaded guilty to charges of driving while disqualified, failing to stop when police activated their sirens, and driving with excess breath alcohol.
Lawyer Joanna Lorigan-Innes said Bishop had not consumed alcohol in the last six months, and had attended alcohol and drug counselling following the incident.
Judge Savage warned Bishop that his behaviour was of concern to him.
“It’s good to hear you’re tidying up, because it’s quite frightening to see a man of your age with such high readings.”
Bishop received an indefinite disqualification, five months of community detention and 12 months supervision.
Drink driving
A Tinwald man has pleaded not guilty to driving while disqualified.
Nathan Lee Rolton, 29, was charged with driving while disqualified six separate times.
He has been remanded for a case review.
“Only as happy as your saddest child”
An Ashton man has found himself disqualified from driving after hitting the road while intoxicated – then stopping halfway home to drink more.
Paul Robert Taylor, 57, pleaded guilty to drink driving.
Taylor was stopped by police on June 12 on the Rakaia Highway.
Duty lawyer Tiffany McRae said Taylor had been in Christchurch supporting his adult children through a hard time.
He had consumed alcohol in Christchurch before stopping in Rakaia for a second round of drinks.
McRae said Taylor had “striven over his life to be an example for his kids,” and was “embarrassed to be in court”.
Judge Savage told Taylor “you’re only ever as happy as your saddest child”.
Taylor was convicted, disqualified from driving for six months, and ordered to pay a $700 fine as well as doctor’s costs for the blood test.
Sentence substitution
A Rakaia man with a record of dangerous driving has shown he’s working to improve his habits.
Joshua Brinsdon, 19, was in court seeking a substitution of his disqualification sentence and turning it into a community sentence, which would see him allowed on the road again but restricted by a curfew.
Brinsdon pleaded guilty to a raft of charges in 2023 including exceeding a 100 kilometre speed limit,failing to stop for police and driving while suspended.
He had completed the Right Track programme, a Christchurch course that corrects young drivers with dangerous road behaviour, which showed he was trying to improve himself, lawyer Grant Fletcher said.
“My overall impression is he’s a very, very changed young man.
“Instead of just driving like a lunatic, he knows the consequences of his actions.”
Police prosecutor Sergeant Caitlin Brown said police were happy that Brinsdon had completed the programme.
Judge Savage said the programme could be “pretty confronting” and opted not to impose further disqualifications. He received a community sentence for two months.
Drink driving on a zero alcohol licence
Aaron James Forde, 26, was in court after a previous appearance where he’d pleaded guiltyto drink driving on a zero alcohol licence.
On June 6, he had been caught driving through Rakaia with alcohol in his system.
While he breath tested under the 250 microgram breath alcohol limit, he was driving on a zero alcohol licence and was not permitted to have any alcohol in his system while driving.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Caitlin Brown said police opposed providing a limited licence as he had a recent history of drink driving.
She said Forde had not proven himself to follow the rules and that the public have an interest in “holding drink drivers to account”.
Forde’s lawyer Joanna Lorigan-Innes said he would need a limited licence as he needed transport for his job.
His name was registered to seven cars, though Forde said he only knew of four, and only two of those cars were roadworthy.
Judge Savage convicted Forde, disqualified him from driving for a year, and sentenced him to 40 hours of community service. He does not have to forfeit his vehicle to the court.
Dangerous driving
An Auckland man has been hit with a fine for risky manoeuvres along State Highway One.
Francis Paolo Manalili, 37, was charged for dangerous driving along Main South Road in Rakaia on June 16.
Manalili was driving a Kia Carnival when he sped up to pass a truck and narrowly missed it.
Lawyer Gretchen Hart said Manalili, a cardiovascular nurse, needed a minimal sentence as a record would affect his prospects of a job.
Manalili pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a $650 fine by Judge Savage.
Drink driving to check on the kids
An Allenton man has pleaded guilty to a drink driving charge.
Hadley James Fletcher, 41, was stopped on March 8 by police who found he had 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml in his blood.
His lawyer, Melissa Maslin, said Fletcher was on his way home to check on his son as he had stood on some nails at home.
He was stopped coming down East Street where police tested him and found he was over the alcohol limit for driving.
Fletcher was convicted and ordered to pay a $500 fine, doctor’s costs for the blood tests, and disqualified from driving for a year.
Cannabis possession
A Chertsey man was in court following the discovery of cannabis plants and paraphernalia in his possession.
Mason John Burton, 49, pleaded guilty to the possession of the utensils and plant, and also to supplying cannabis to others in an earlier case.
Judge Savage sentenced Burton to nine months of supervision, and ordered the cannabis plant be destroyed.
Common assault
An Allenton man has pleaded guilty to assaulting a man.
Shane John Cleaver, 53, was convicted on one common assault charge in the Ashburton District Court.
Cleaver was ordered to carry out 50 hours of community work.
Drink driver
A man from Netherby was caught drink driving, with over double the legal amount of alcohol in his system.
Brent Leo Ferguson, 34, was caught drink driving in Ashburton on July 5.
Ferguson was driving down South street when he was stopped by police.
A breath test revealed over 699 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath – the legal limit is 250.
Ferguson pleaded guilty, and has been disqualified from driving for six months and ordered to pay a $600 fine.
By Anisha Satya
