Deborah Coddington: Sorry Sam, you're living in the past and way out of line

Merchant banker Sam Kelt. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

It seems to be the cause du jour for men of a certain personality type to use the justice system to crusade against perceived injustices in the world.

So kind of taxpayers to fund their little campaigns. Would it be expecting too much for them to dip into their own pockets and maybe publish a book, with solid research backing up their arguments?

Last week, in the Hastings District Court, Sam Kelt, 47, a wealthy merchant banker from Hawke's Bay, was convicted and discharged on disorderly behaviour, for what seemed, at first glance, a minor - amusing even - transgression.

He was alleged to have taken a "flying kung-fu kick" at a passing car.

After two JPs discharged Kelt and ordered costs of $130, he said he was "tired of irresponsible, young drivers causing mayhem and death" and "would prefer to stand up to these people even if it means conviction for disorderly behaviour".

What happened depends on who you believe. Police said Kelt was going for a hamburger around 10.30pm, walking along the middle of the road, under the influence of alcohol. They produced witnesses.

A woman tooted at Kelt because she was worried he would step in front of her car and a security guard told him to get off the road.

The court was told Kelt told the guard to "f*** off" and gave him the finger, so he phoned police.

A short time later the kung-fu kick incident occurred. Kelt said he was provoked. The driver said he swerved at him to give him a fright.

Constable Ben Howat said Kelt appeared to be intoxicated, with slurred speech but Kelt, on the stand, said he took "grave offence" at any suggestion he was drunk and he did not kung-fu kick the car.

His lawyer said a person of Kelt's physical build would not be capable of such action (Kelt is short and pudgy.)

This isn't the first time Kelt has appeared in court as a defendant, nor argued with police over his sobriety.

In December 2008 Kelt was charged with assault after a fight in Diva Bar in Havelock North, when he allegedly grabbed the manager by his shirt.

Police said Kelt was drunk and abusive; Kelt said he was sober and he was discharged without conviction.

In July 2006, in Mt Maunganui, Kelt was beaten up by Raponi Terangikatukua Wilson, 20, when he left a pub and demanded boy racers stop making so much noise.

Wilson told the court Kelt banged on the bonnet of his car, and at Wilson's sentencing, Kelt hired Paul Mabey QC to read his victim impact statement for him, but only received $1000 in reparation.

And in January 2004 Kelt was charged with assaulting police, resisting arrest, and refusing to supply a blood sample when he was pulled over after the Hastings races.

Police pepper-sprayed and handcuffed him, claiming he was aggressive, but Kelt said he was being friendly and had his hands in his pockets. He was fined $1200 after the assault and resisting charges were dropped, and he apologised.

Kelt, a millionaire, is no stranger to the Bay's celebrity circuit. His company generously sponsors the racing carnival and Horse of the Year Show. So when he turns up in court, the reporters follow.

Sam Kelt repeatedly denies he was drunk. The police repeatedly allege he was over the limit. They can't both be wrong.

When I was a Waipukurau teenager the Bay was full of these jolly guys - to the manor born - the Warners, the Georges, the Johnnies, moleskin trousers, jodhpur boots, sportscoats. Pissed after polo, they'd drive home in their Holden utes to feed out because that's what real men did.

But they grew up; slapped into reality partly by Roger Douglas. No one with balls behaves like that any more, not unless they need rehab.

This country has a dire alcohol abuse problem, and we publicise it by repeatedly showing pictures of drunken youth in city night spots.

But it's not just the kids who aren't okay.

Kelt's no crusader. He's just an anachronistic Hawke's Bay Hooray Henry. We're all tired of irresponsible drivers, Sir, but we're also tired of men who won't grow up. I'm sure Hawke's Bay police are too.