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Prison texter sentenced A PRISONER who got access to a phone and texted threats to an ex-partner has been sentenced to serve a further nine months in person.
William Jonathon Wiki sent several texts between June and July last year, threatening to kill his ex-partner and her new partner. He also threatened to assault her and damage her property.
Judge Kim Saunders said although there was little risk of Wiki following through on the threats given he was in prison, his victim was entitled to feel she was safe from him.
“It was planned and you wanted to scare her,” the judge told Wiki, who appeared in Te Kūiti District Court by audio visual link. Wiki was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, to be served cumulatively to his current prison sentence.
Sentence delayed A MAN who refused to leave his victim’s house and followed her to the police station in an attempt to control the situation, was not sentenced on Thursday to allow proper consideration to be given to an appropriate sentence.
Tory Joseph pleaded guilty last week to breaching a protection order when he went to his victim’s Te Kūiti house and refused to leave despite her asking him to approximately 12 times, according to the summary of facts read in court.
When the victim left to go to the police station, Joseph followed her and tried to tell staff at the desk there was no issue and everything was okay. He was asked to leave and did, but returned some time later and demanded to be let into the office where the victim was so he could know what she was saying.
According to the summary of facts, Joseph was controlling over what the victim wore, where she went and who she talked to.
He destroyed five phones given to her by family and friends.
He was supported last week by two people who sat in the public gallery. Judge Saunders questioned who one of them was, saying she hoped the young woman at the back of the court was not the victim.
The female supporter was identified as the victim, who is pregnant with Joseph’s child.
Joseph’s counsel said her client accepted he had been controlling in the past but said he was not now. He accepted he needed help in learning how to have an appropriate relationship, she said.
Police prosecutor Baden Hilton said unless the cycle of violence could be completely broken, there was a real risk it would continue to the next generation.
The judge said she acknowledged the offending was not physical, but she was concerned that the victim going to the police station did not deter Joseph.
She said it was a reality Joseph and the victim would continue to see each other, especially since there was now a child on the way.
Sentencing that was meant to take place at last week’s hearing was adjourned until March in Manukau District Court, which was closer to where Joseph was living.
Driver caused Maccas crash A WOMAN who caused a low speed crash by entering the McDonald’s Ōtorohanga car park the wrong way has pleaded guilty to being intoxicated while driving.
Rangiawatea Laurel Tane was found to have a breath alcohol level of 927 microgams of alcohol per litre of breath on December 14 last year by police who were called to the scene.
The legal limit for driving is 250mcg.
Tane was convicted and remanded at large by Judge Saunders, to be sentenced at the end of next month. This was her first conviction.
Guilty pleas entered ANTONIO Francis Shirtcliffe was convicted of several driving-related charges last week. He pleaded guilty to twice driving while disqualified and giving false information to police.
Shirtcliffe is yet to be sentenced on two further charges from Morrinsville of driving while disqualified and driving while suspended.
He will reappear in court next month.
Charge amended, pleas entered GUILTY pleas were entered to two charges by Wiremu Emery.
He was convicted of an amended charge of injuring with reckless disregard (previously assault with a blunt instrument) and of intentional damage. He is next due in court in March.
Pleas deemed PLEAS of not guilty were entered on behalf of Daniel Paul Taylor to two charges of child assault.
Charges disputed RAYMOND Charles Taiawa has disputed four violence charges and pleaded not guilty through counsel Shaam Bhardwaj.
Driver sentenced DRINK driver Terry Michael Milne has been sentenced to six months’ supervision for driving with a breath alcohol level of 912mcg.
Milne was driving on Maniapoto St, Ōtorohanga in October when he turned quickly onto Ranfurly St, swerved into a parked car and then continued with enough speed to jump a kerb onto a grass bank.
Milne drove away and was breath tested by police 45 minutes after the incident occurred, according to the summary of facts. This was his first drink driving conviction in 24 years, but due to the high level he will be subject to an alcohol interlock licence. He was convicted and discharged on a second charge of driving carelessly.
Judge Saunders told Milne to drink all he wanted, but to make sure he found another way home in future.
Towed driver convicted IN October last year, police stopped a vehicle towing another in Te Kūiti.
The person in the driver’s seat of the vehicle being towed, Jason Harry Tukuteihu Hetet, had a suspended licence and was charged for operating the vehicle.
A month later, Hetet was stopped on Seddon St, Te Kūiti and was charged a second time for driving while his licence was suspended.
Hetet pleaded guilty to both charges last week and was convicted.
