A 21-year-old Kaitaia man who allegedly stroked a female police officer's arm and leg as she was driving him to the police station, telling her that he had just been released from prison and inviting her to "have a detour," has denied a charge of indecent assault.
Heta Lloyd Brass entered the not guilty plea before Judge Greg Davis in the Kaitaia District Court, but admitted dangerous driving, refusing to give a blood sample and obstructing police. He was further remanded in custody.
The court heard that Brass would not be calling witnesses to defend the indecent assault charge, but would rely on the summary of facts' inability to support the charge.
According to the summary Brass, who had been released from prison in Auckland at 10am that morning, lost control of the car he was driving as he turned from SH10 on to SH1 at Awanui on the evening of June 13. He was travelling in excess of the 50km/h speed limit. The car headed directly for the Awanui Dairy, then, when Brass over-corrected, crossed both lanes and crashed into a metal fence.
There were numerous people in the area, some pointing the defendant out to police.