Wrong place to look for loving

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 last week, but admitted dangerous driving, refusing blood and obstructing police. He was further remanded in custody for hearing today.

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 of facts, Brass, who had been released from prison in Auckland at 10 o'clock 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 and made no attempt to slow down as he negotiated the intersection. 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 at the time, some pointing the defendant out to police.

Brass, who was highly intoxicated, denied being the driver, denied having been in a car, and professed to have no idea what the police were talking about.

On the way to the Kaitaia police station (some 9km north) the defendant began to stroke the constable's arm and leg. He stopped briefly when asked to do so but then resumed, leaning extremely close to her, telling her he had just been released from prison and needed some loving. He also suggested "having" a detour.

He desisted when the officer threatened to arrest him for assault and called for back-up. The constable handcuffed him and completed the journey.

Brass again tried to stroke the constable's hand, and told her he wanted some "loving," in the evidential breath analysis suite at the station. She asked for a male officer to be present, but while they were both out of the room the defendant ripped the printout from the machine and pressed buttons, rendering the test null and void. He became aggressive and had to be restrained and placed in a cell.