Heavy fine for community work breach by Dannevirke man

A Dannevirke man received a hefty fine for failing to complete a community work sentence.Photo / File

Breaching a court-imposed sentence has cost a Dannevirke man almost $4000 and will be added to more than $8000 he owes in existing fines.

Appearing for sentence in Dannevirke District Court on Friday before Judge Keryn Broughton was Sean Daniel Edgington, who was charged with breaching a community work order.

Counsel Alan Cressey said Edgington was originally sentenced to 100 hours' community work but he did not carry it out.

"He went back to court and had 200 hours added to his sentence but he didn't do it and was arrested again," Cressey said.

"He wanted to convert his sentence to a fine but he's a self-employed builder and when Covid-19 happened work was messed up. He doesn't know when he will be working so it makes it hard for him to carry out community work."

Edgington had 191 hours of community work outstanding and $8196 in fines.

Cressey asked if the court could remit all or some of Edgington's outstanding fines.

But Judge Broughton said she was not prepared to clear his fines as there had to be some repayment.

Edgington then told the court that he had two years work ahead of him.

Cressey said in that case could the court convert his community work hours to fines as well.

Judge Broughton calculated, based on the minimum wage of $20 an hour, Edgington's outstanding community work hours would equate to $3820.

This amount was added to Edgington's outstanding fines of $8196 which he will pay off at the rate of $100 a week.

Also facing an additional fine on was Dallas Pokere Pompey, 31, who faced a drink-driving charge.

Cressey told the court while it was Pompey's first drink-driving offence he did have $900 in outstanding fines.

Judge Broughton told the court Pompey was stopped by police while driving on High St on June 28 at 6.30pm.

"You were stopped by police because there had been complaints regarding the manner of your driving. At the time you said to police you were going to a function."

He recorded a breath-alcohol reading of 571,

Judge Broughton fined Pompey $570 and disqualified him from driving for six months.