Cup-basher in court again

The man convicted of bashing the America's Cup with a sledgehammer in 1997 has been sentenced to community work for repeatedly breaching a protection order taken out by a former girlfriend.

Benjamin Nathan, 35, unemployed, of no fixed abode, admitted sending emails and text messages to the Nelson woman.

Defence counsel Herman Roose told the Nelson District Court yesterday that the woman had indicated to Nathan that she wanted him to come to Nelson.

"They are both very passionate people, passionate about aspects of being apart and being together." Mr Roose said there was no violence involved in the offences. Nathan had now accepted that the relationship was over and would not contact the woman, even if she contacted him.

Judge Paul Whitehead said that on the day Nathan was convicted and discharged for twice breaching a protection order, he emailed the victim.

He emailed and texted her the next day, before leaving a message on her cellphone on January 15 saying that if she did not call him back, he would come to Nelson.

The judge accepted that Nathan had given up his life to go to Nelson in the hope of reconciling with the woman.

Nathan was sentenced to 250 hours of community work and nine months of supervision.

- NZPA