Imprisoned for shoplifting

A woman has been imprisoned after being convicted on a series of dishonesty charges

Nikita Gilmer appeared in Ōpōtiki District Court last Thursday to plead guilty to two counts of shoplifting, three counts of taking a document for pecuniary advantage, and two counts of breaching release conditions.

Judge Louis Bidois sentenced Gilmer to five months’ prison.

She was ordered to pay reparation of $50 and $266 on the two shoplifting charges.

Sentencing indication accepted

An Ōpōtiki man has accepted a sentencing indication of 16 months' imprisonment.

Dios Moore, 32, appeared via audio visual link to plead on charges of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, burglary valued under $500, unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle, theft of under $500, unlawfully being in an enclosed area, escaping police custody, breaching release conditions, driving in a dangerous manner and intentional damage.

His lawyer, Whare Hika, asked Moore if he accepted the 16-month sentencing indication, to which Moore said, “yes”.

Judge Bidois remanded Moore until July 24 for sentencing to give time for assessment of Moore’s home detention suitability.

Fine and interlock

Detroit Parekura has been sentenced for driving with excess breath alcohol.

He pleaded guilty to driving with a breath alcohol level of over 400 micrograms per litre per litre of breath.

Judge Bidois said Parekura was driving with a breath alcohol level of close to 1000mcg. The legal limit for driving is 250mcg.

“This is your first conviction, you’re young, and you have access to work,” Judge Bidois told Parekura.

The defendant was fined $950 plus costs and ordered to complete an interlock sentence.

Cultivating three cannabis plants

A Maraenui man has been sentenced for cultivating cannabis on an Ōpōtiki property.

Dylan Toopi, 32, was found to have three “healthy, flowering” cannabis plants in his backyard.

His lawyer, Leonard Hemi, said Toopi denied the plants were his but was “taking the rap for the family”.

“If you see cannabis plants on your property, you get rid of them no matter if they’re yours,” Judge Bidois said.

told Toopi.

The judge fined him $500 plus court costs.

Not guilty entered

A woman has entered not guilty pleas to two intimidation charges.

Melanie Hargreaves pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal harassment and intentional damage.

Judge Bidois remanded her on bail until June 12 for case review.

“Poor behaviour”

An Ōpōtiki man has been reprimanded for “poor behaviour” after contravening a protection order.

Kopua Hoko, 38, pleaded guilty to contravening a protection order, driving with a breath alcohol level of over 400mcg and wilful damage.

“This is poor behaviour Mr Hoko, to smash up her place,” Judge Bidois said.

“You’re supposed to be the father of her children, her partner. Here you were behaving like this.”

Hoko was fined $500 for the wilful damage done to the door and walls of the victim’s home, $400 for breaching the protection order, and $750 for driving with excess breath alcohol.

“You have prospects for your future. Don’t mess it up,” Judge Bidois told Hoko.

One month home detention

An Ōpōtiki man has been sentenced to one month home detention on a series of charges.

Kenneth Winder, 41, was convicted of careless driving, common assault, assault on a person in a family relationship, possession of an offensive weapon and breaching community work.

He was sentenced to eight months’ prison with credit for the six months he had already spent in custody.

The remaining two-month sentence was converted to one month’s home detention.

Winder was also ordered to complete 210 hours of community work, pay $2159 reparation and $150 emotional harm reparation.

Late home on curfew

A man has breached his bail by arriving to his home after the curfew contained in his bail conditions.

Lynsay Herewini is on bail having pleaded not guilty to a charge of arson.

His lawyer Steve Franklin said his client was “late home”.

“He accepts he made a mistake and says it won’t happen again,” Mr Franklin told Judge Bidois.

Herewini was readmitted to bail and remanded until May 23 for his next appearance in Tauranga District Court.

Convicted and discharged

A man has been convicted and discharged for a summary offences assault.

Dale Smith was initially charged with injury with intent to injure, but this was amended to a summary offences assault by prosecutor Sergeant Ian Dodds.

Judge Bidois said Smith had been on bail for one year during the court proceedings for this charge.

Smith was ordered to pay $250 emotional harm reparation to the victim.

Supervision order

Johnnie Shaw pleaded guilty to four counts of wilful damage and assaulting police.

He was sentenced to 12 months’ supervision.

Sentenced on 2023 charges

A woman has been sentenced on charges laid in December 2023.

Ngawai Kingi, 29, was convicted of failing to stop for police, driving with excess breath alcohol, assaulting police, driving dangerously, threatening to kill, two counts of theft of under $500, refusing an officer’s request to give blood and driving while disqualified.

Judge Bidois said Kingi had committed two lots of offending while on bail.

Defence lawyer Paul Devoy asked Judge Bidois for more time so Kingi could find a home detention address.

Judge Bidois chose to sentence Kingi because the case had been going through the courts for so long.

Kingi was sentenced to 17 months' imprisonment and disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day.

Breached release conditions

A man has been convicted of breaching his release conditions.

Stafford Hudson pleaded guilty to the one charge of breaching his release conditions and was given a suspended sentence and ordered to come up if called upon for the next six months.

Judge Bidois told Hudson, “You’re on your own”.

“We wanted to offer you help, but if you don’t want it, we’re just wasting our time.”