THE Kawerau man who was arrested in April after a lengthy ordeal involving police being shot at and three victims being held hostage – one being detained for two hours – has pleaded guilty.

Jade Raymond Mellow, 32, admitted 21 charges at Whakatāne District Court on Wednesday before Judge Louis Bidois.

He requested a referral to restorative justice, which was directed on all charges that had victims.

According to court documents, Mellow entered three properties on rural roads in the Edgecumbe and Te Teko areas on April 24 while in possession of .22 calibre rifle.

One of the properties was occupied by the hostage victims, two men and a woman.

Mellow threatened to kill the victims and wounded one of them.

Earlier, he stole a 2004 Hyundai Elantra from one of the other properties and presented the rifle at two police officers who attempted to approach the vehicle he was in.

Mellow has been convicted of Crown charges including two counts of using a firearm against law enforcement, kidnapping for gain, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle, being unlawfully in an enclosed yard, burglary, driving while disqualified, wounding with intent to injure, committing burglary with a weapon, unlawfully possessing a firearm, failing to stop for police, two counts of threatening to kill and three counts of wilful damage.

He also pleaded guilty to police charges of unlawful assembly to disturb the peace and possession of an offensive weapon, and two Corrections charges of breaching release conditions.

Mellow was remanded in custody to January 30 for sentencing.

Other court appearances

Large fraud admitted

FRAUDSTER Matthew Robert John Black has pleaded guilty to a raft of charges, resulting in a near $150,000 loss to victims.

Black, 38, admitted charges of theft by a person in a special relationship, 12 counts of obtaining by deception, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, driving with excess breath alcohol, breaching community work and an amended charge of unlawful conversion of a trailer.

He was remanded on bail to December for sentencing.

Shoplifter unhappy with coalition politics

A REPEAT shoplifter took the opportunity during his time in the dock to voice his displeasure at New Zealand’s political direction, particularly the Treaty Principles Bill.

Kieran John O’Brien pleaded guilty to three counts of shoplifting across three months at New World Whakatāne, totalling $370, and a fourth charge of possession of an offensive weapon, a screwdriver.

Charges of resisting police and speaking threateningly were withdrawn by police.

After entering the pleas, defence lawyer Whare Hika said the defendant wished to address the judge directly.

For several minutes, O’Brien spoke about the Treaty of Waitangi and his unhappiness with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Act leader David Seymour.

He continued when Judge Bidois asked what the treaty had to do with his decision to shoplift.

“If we can’t get back to our roots of who we are, what are we doing as a country?”

Judge Bidois said he could not do anything about the politicians leading the country, but he could deal with the matters before the court.

O’Brien interrupted the judge as he began his sentencing saying: “Are you working for Foodstuffs, or are you working for the community?”

Judge Bidois had initially sentenced O’Brien to 120 hours’ community work and ordered reparation, but after the defendant’s earlier spiel, an in-court Corrections representative raised concerns about his suitability in a community work setting.

The judge agreed and instead fined O’Brien $200 plus costs for the shoplifting charges and $300 plus costs for possessing the screwdriver.

“One final chance”

WHAKATĀNE man Mack Robert Willie Anderson avoided a prison sentence for his eighth drink driving conviction, with a level almost five times the legal limit.

Anderson, 41, was caught with a blood alcohol level of 237 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 50mg.

Defence lawyer Kylee O’Connor said alcohol addiction was an ongoing problem and was triggered by grief for the defendant, with a clear link between grief and him choosing to drink and drive.

Ms O’Connor said there was a significant gap between drink driving offences by Anderson, except for one conviction last year.

Judge Bidois said Anderson would be given “one final chance” in the community.

Anderson was sentenced to three months’ community detention with an overnight curfew, 160 hours’ community work and 12 months’ supervision.

He was disqualified for 28 days and then will be subject to an alcohol interlock.

The judge ordered Anderson to pay $225.34 reparation for the blood test.

41 mature cannabis plants

MANAWAHE man Pita Pipi Keepa has been sentenced to 12 months’ home detention for the possession of 41 mature cannabis plants and trimmed cannabis.

Keepa said he kept the plants for personal medicinal purposes as a painkiller, but Judge Bidois said the crop was well in excess of that purpose.

The judge said there was a commercial aspect to the growing operation because of its size, but there was no evidence of them being sold.

A start point of three years’ imprisonment was set, with a reduction of one third for mitigating factors.

The two-year prison sentence was converted to home detention.

Drink driver says dress was ripped during arrest

A TE KAHA woman arrested for driving dangerously and with a breath alcohol level almost four times the legal limit, has received a combination of sentences to address her offending.

Summer Rain D’Aubney-Ruka pleaded guilty to charges of driving in a dangerous manner, possession of cannabis, driving with excess breath alcohol and assault.

Defence lawyer Lisa Ebbers said the 28-year-old defendant reacted to having her dress ripped and subsequently being exposed while she was arrested by two male police officers.

D’Aubney-Ruka wanted to cover herself but could not during the process of being arrested, Ms Ebbers said.

Police denied the dress was ripped.

Judge Bidois said D’Aubney-Ruka drove dangerously on Wainui Road, with a breath alcohol level of 969 micrograms, spat at a police officer and was in possession of drugs.

He stood the matter down for the defendant to write a letter of apology, which he later described as showing insight and empathy.

D’Aubney-Ruka was sentenced to 140 hours’ community work, nine months’ supervision and was disqualified from driving for eight months.

The mandatory minimum disqualification period was six months, and Judge Bidois said the uplift reflected the combination of offending.

Burglary of ex’s house admitted

A WOMAN has pleaded guilty to charges of burglary and wilful trespass, laid after she entered her ex-partner's house to retrieve property.

Police said Jessie Toi Matete stole items from the house, but she said she was the one who bought the items.

Judge Bidois said Matete had spent four days in custody since her arrest, which would have served as a “salutary lesson.”

He sentenced her to 100 hours’ community work and nine months’ supervision.

She was ordered to pay $750 in reparations, unless she could satisfy police that the items were hers.

Limited sentencing options

TRANSIENT Ōpōtiki woman Natasha Haare pleaded guilty to charges of burglary, unlawful interference with a motor vehicle and being unlawfully in an enclosed yard or area.

Property taken by Haare, 29, from a residential address on Bridge Street, Ōpōtiki during the burglary has since been returned, the court heard.

She entered another property on Wellington Street, Ōpōtiki where the house was empty, but she saw a car, opened the door and rummaged through it. Nothing was taken.

Haare has been non-compliant previously with community-based sentences, and discussions between her defence lawyer and the judge agreed that prison had not been particularly helpful either.

Judge Bidois said because the defendant had nowhere to live when she was released from prison, it was not a structured transition back into the community.

Haare was remanded to reappear today in hope a family member in Kawerau would agree to take her in.

Burnouts result in disqualification

TEKAURA Ngaheu has been fined $800 and disqualified from driving for six months after he was caught doing burnouts.

Ngaheu pleaded guilty this week to charges of operating a motor vehicle causing sustained loss of traction and driving dangerously.

A third charge of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle was withdrawn by police.

Judge Bidois heard that Ngaheu was released from prison in December, with his release conditions due to end the day after his court appearance. This was his only offending during that time.

Judge Bidois said it was “pretty stupid behaviour” but noted Ngaheu had complied with restrictive bail conditions for three months.

Charges denied, bail granted

ŌPŌTIKI man Dios Jordan Moore has pleaded not guilty to charges of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, dangerous driving and intentional damage.

Judge Bidois granted Moore bail and remanded him to reappear in Ōpōtiki District Court in December.

Lawyer withdraws, trial set

A TRIAL date has been set for Kalolo Aliu Fiaui to represent himself against a raft of charges.

Fiaui’s legal aid-assigned lawyer was granted leave to withdraw as counsel after he travelled two hours to meet him in prison, but the defendant refused to see him.

The defendant has been charged with assault on a person in a family relationship, two counts of wilful trespass, burglary, breaching bail, three counts of indecent performance and acts, two counts of obscene language and two counts of being unlawfully in an enclosed yard or area.

His trial is set for November 29.

Trial set

A TRIAL date has been set for next year for Camilo Anaru Galvin.

He faces charges of injuring with intent to injure and assault on a person in a family relationship.

Psychological abuse admitted

TĀNEATUA man Arthur James Toman, who now resides elsewhere in the North Island, has admitted psychologically abusing a person protected by a protection order.

Toman, 64, was sentenced to 160 hours’ community work and was ordered to pay $250 in emotional harm reparations.

Escape denied

RYAN Anaru Ram has denied a charge of escaping police custody, with a case review hearing scheduled in November.

He pleaded guilty to a separate charge of breaching post detention conditions and as a result was eligible to be resentenced on an earlier suspended sentence.

Judge Bidois cancelled Ram’s post-detention conditions and imposed six months’ supervision.

Trial date set

A THREE-DAY defended hearing has been scheduled in Tauranga District Court for Rawiri Makaarini Brooking’s case to be heard.

Brooking has denied Crown charges including three counts of dangerous act with intent to injure, two each of unlawful possession of a firearm and perverting the course of justice, and one each of remaining after a burglary and kidnapping.

The trial before a judge alone starts on November 25.

Short remand on charges

WHITIAUA Toki Tarei has been remanded in custody without plea until next week to discuss the allegations against him with his lawyer.

He has been charged with burglary, rape, aggravated burglary and assault with a blunt instrument.

No pleas entered

PAKURA Tioke was remanded without plea until the end of the month on charges of rape, aggravated robbery and assault with a blunt instrument.

Child assault denied

TWO charges of assault on a child have been denied by Matarena Hinemoa Teresia Waiari.

She was remanded to a case review hearing in November.

Sentence for meth and pipe possession

A MAN who admitted being in possession of three grams of methamphetamine and a pipe has been sentenced to community work.

Michael Tuhi Martini Webb pleaded guilty this week to two charges relating to the drugs and utensil.

He was sentenced to 140 hours’ community work.

Interim name suppression granted

A man facing two assault charges and wilful damage has been granted interim name suppression.

Police allege the 37-year-old hit two people with a vehicle and damaged a rental van.

He was remanded without plea until the end of the month for a legal aid lawyer to be assigned.

Co-defendant admits offending

MARK Andrew Bateson pleaded guilty this week to three charges, prompting police to withdraw charges against a co-defendant.

Bateson pleaded guilty to wilful damage, being unlawfully in an enclosed yard and an amended charge of threatening behaviour.

Police withdrew charges against Neisha Paige Biddle-Bateson of threatening to kill and being unlawfully in an enclosed yard.

The judge heard the victim was confronted at his work by Bateson about allegedly breaching a parenting order.

Bateson was fined $250, was ordered to pay $500 in reparation and $150 in emotional harm reparations.