Two French tourists arrested in Queenstown recently for separate drunken offences have copped a verbal spraying by a district court judge.
Judge Kevin Phillips criticised Malween Gael Triquet and Yann Armand Martin in Queenstown District Court today when they appeared on separate charges.
Triquet, 27, admitted stealing a digital camera, and iPod Touch and $50 cash from a woman’s handbag in Harry’s Pool Bar on August 26.
Triquet used the money to buy cigarettes and gave the other items to mates, using them to take photos of each other.
The items were recovered by police and Triquet was ordered to pay the $50 back to the victim.
Judge Phillips told Triquet: “You are the type of tourist or overseas worker we do not need. You blame the alcohol for your dishonesty instead of yourself.
“In reality, if I could, I would be directing my comments to Immigration to have you removed from New Zealand.”
Martin, 29, appeared immediately after Triquet. He admitted one charge of offensive behaviour and unlawful possession of a knife.
Martin was arrested on September 11 for urinating in a garden on Shotover Street and cops discovered he had a knife on him.
Judge Phillips told Martin: “I don’t know what got into the wine in Queenstown but two offenders in a row are from France.
“You wouldn’t go and pee in the Champs Elysees so why must you do it in Queenstown?
“It is unacceptable behaviour.”
Triquet was fined $400 plus court costs of $132.89. Martin was fined $400 plus court costs.
Child assault charge
A Queenstown man has appeared in court charged with assaulting his 11-year-old son.
The man, who has interim name suppression to protect the boy’s identity, has been remanded without plea till October 8.
Dangerous driving
A Glenorchy horse-trek guide has been ordered to pay $2700 in reparation after admitting driving dangerously.
Wietske Van Der Werff, 26, took a blind corner too fast on the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road on August 23, as she was driving to Queenstown.
She crossed the centre line, causing an oncoming car to swerve to the left to avoid collision.
Van Der Werff was also forced to swerve her own vehicle away, resulting in her fish-tailing for 50m down the road, crossing the centre line again and into the path of another oncoming car. This car veered off the road and slid down a bank towards Lake Wakatipu.
Judge Phillips told Van Der Werff her driving was “absolutely atrocious”.
“It’s just fortunate no one was injured otherwise you would be going to prison.”
Van Der Werff must pay reparation for damage to the other vehicle by October 20. She has also been disqualified from driving for seven months.
More jail likely for repeat drink-driver
Recidivist drink-driver Shea Mitchell Taylor, 23, will return to jail after admitting driving drunk while disqualified.
Taylor, of Gore, was caught on August 26 driving at more than twice the legal alcohol limit.
He was last in court in February this year, when he was sentenced to eight months’ prison for the same type of offending. He’d previously admitted drink-driving charges in 2009 and 2010.
Judge Phillips says prison is again inevitable for Taylor. He remanded him on bail so he could quit his job before appearing in Invercargill District Court on October 17 for sentencing.
“You are clearly an alcoholic who cannot control either his drinking or his driving.”
Other drink-driving
Julien Romain Janaud, 23, technician from France, excess breath alcohol 555mcg on Frankton Road, September 15. Disqualified from driving for 6 months.
Daniel Lee Bridgett, 26, local bartender, excess blood alcohol 148 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood while driving on York Street, August 24. Fined $700, court costs $132.89, plus medical and analyst fees $138.
William Ridgway, 18, local mechanic, 298mcg on Malaghan St, September 8. Fined $200, court costs $132.89, disqualified for three months.
