Without provocation, Tamarau Stevens struck a 70-year-old man as he walked outside the Whakatāne library in August, knocking him to the ground.

The violence continued, with the 23-year-old man standing over the older man as he lay on the ground, kicking him in the head.

He snatched the man’s cellphone from his hand and threw it onto the ground, shattering it.

Stevens appeared in the Whakatāne District Court via audio visual link on Wednesday for sentence on charges of striking with intent to injure, theft and wilfful damage.

His lawyer, Whare Hika, said Stevens had not intended to injure the man but he was angry at the time, and homeless.

The prosecutor said the attack was unexpected and unprovoked, and closely resembled a type of “coward punch offending”.

The victim was struck without warning and had no reasonable opportunity to defend himself.

In sentencing Stevens to nine months’ and 21 days’ in prison, Judge David Cameron described his actions as “appalling”.

The victim’s immediate injuries included a bloody nose, lower back pain and bruising to his torso but there had also been longer-lasting impacts with the man now lacking in confidence to walk around by himself.

The pre-sentence report, which recommended a sentence of imprisonment, noted Stevens was a methamphetamine and cannabis user.

Defendant “muted”

Nathan Ngoungou remains in custody while updated information is collected for his electronically monitored bail application.

The 44-year-old Whakatāne man is charged with threatening to kill, assault with a weapon, behaving threateningly, obstructing the course of justice, resisting police, possession of utensils for using methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and cannabis, escaping custody and failing to stop.

He appeared via audio visual link from prison and represented himself, but was “muted” by Judge Cameron when he was unable to control his outbursts.

His reactions came after hearing an electronically monitored bail assessor had assessed his proposed bail address as unsuitable, despite the complainant of his offending having moved away from the vicinity.

Judge Cameron further remanded Ngoungou in custody until October 21 to allow him time to see the EM bail assessment and for the Crown to obtain an updated report on the location of the complainant.

Remand on bail

Hohepa Titoko has been released on bail and will reappear in court on October 28 for plea and possible resolution of the charges he is facing.

The 27-year-old Tāneatua man is charged with injuring with intent to injure, threatening to kill, and acting in a threatening way towards a dwelling.

Remand for sentence

Jesse Ram will appear for sentencing in December on a raft of charges.

The 36-year-old Whakatāne man has pleaded guilty to refusing an officer’s request for blood, careless driving, two counts of assault with a blunt instrument, namely a wooden chopping board and a frying pan, assault with intent to injure, assault on a person in a family relationship, driving while disqualified and breaching community detention.

He will reappear on December 9.

Prison for shoplifting

Christopher Allen has been sentenced to four-and-a-half months in prison for shoplifting.

Allen appeared via audio visual link from prison on four charges of shoplifting and five charges of trespass.

With Allen being in custody, and nearing a “time served” situation, Judge Cameron decided to sentence him on the spot rather than remand him to the next available sentence date in November.

The shoplifting related to goods ranging from $16 to $150, taken from supermarkets and other retail outlets.

The trespassing charges came after Allen entered stores he had previously been trespassed from.

Bail granted

Kayleigh Jade Clarke has been bailed on a curfew to an address out of the region to await sentence in October on a charge of wilful trespass.

Clarke, 26, also faces charges of assaulting a first responder, wilful trespass and resisting police, which she has not entered pleas to.

These have been remanded to the same date in October.

Police have withdrawn a charge of unlawfully being in a building.

Dog needed ride

Hamiora Mahaki has been sentenced to 60 hours’ community work and disqualified from driving for six months on charges of driving while disqualified and possession of a pipe.

His lawyer, Paul Devoy, said Mahaki had been driving because he needed to take his daughter’s dog into town.

Trial set

A judge-alone trial date of January 29 has been set for charges laid against Harry Anzac Taitapanui.

The 52-year-old Whakatāne man denies charges of shoplifting, burglary and theft.

A charge of receiving has been withdrawn by police.

Reparation paid

Piurangi Holt has been sentenced to supervision and community work on a charge of burglary.

The court heard the 28-year-old Te Teko woman had already paid reparation of $700 for the burglary.

She was sentenced to nine months’ supervision and 100 hours’ community work.

Further disqualified

Dion Kingi has never held a licence and will not be able to until mid-2027.

The 26-year-old Whakatāne man appeared for sentence on three charges of driving while disqualified.

Lawyer Jonathan Kay said Kingi had never had a licence and knew he needed to “sort it out”.

Judge Cameron sentenced him to 80 hours of community work and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.

He backdated the disqualification to start at the end of July, when Kingi’s previous disqualification had ended.

Prison for assault

Police withdrew a charge of assault with a blunt instrument against Clement Makamaka and he pleaded guilty to the remaining charge of assault.

Makamaka appeared via audio visual link from custody where he has been for the past two months.

Judge Cameron sentenced him to four months in prison for the assault, which involved him holding up his fist and threatening to punch the victim in the face before kicking her in both legs.

Threats only

Moana Haig has been sentenced to nine months’ supervision for sending threatening texts.

Lawyer Helen Gould said Haig acknowledged making the threats of violence but had no intention of carrying out the threats or doing any harm.