'April fool of Hokitika' fined $800

John William Bushnell was labelled "April Fool of Hokitika" when he appeared in Greymouth District Court yesterday.

Bushnell, 36, beekeeper, of Nelson, was also fined $800 after admitting charges of threatening behaviour and possessing an offensive weapon (a metal bar) in Devaney's Bar on the afternoon of April 1.

Sergeant Graeme Eden said Bushnell was initially in good spirits but took exception when two musicians started rehearsing, abusing them and claiming they weren't "real musicians".

He then made lewd comments to the female bar manager and produced the bar from his overalls when she argued with him.

Bushnell also tried to take a beer and meal belonging to other patrons while menacing them with the bar.

He was not driving but agreed to a breath test, producing a reading of 1001 micrograms -- two and a half times over the limit.

Defence counsel Mohammed Shahadat said Bushnell had consumed one too many and had foolishly produced the bar -- used to scrape beehives.

"You had not one too many, but 1001," Judge David Saunders said. "Someone should have told you April Fool's day finishes at noon. You were a drunken bore and can be rightly termed April Fool of Hokitika."

- NZPA