Judge warns troublemakers

A judge has warned Whangarei's troublesome youths that their anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.

Judge Thomas Everitt gave the warning when sentencing an 18-year-old woman to 200 hours' community work and 12 months' supervision on charges including disorderly behaviour and assaulting a police officer. He told Ira Wira she could go to jail if she did not turn up for the community work.

Wira was appearing for sentencing on charges of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, disorderly and offensive behaviour, theft and burglary as a first offender. All the offences except the last took place in Whangarei's business district at night.

"This is typical street crime from somebody who is out of control," the judge said. "She needs to be made to face up to the fact that there are consequences for her in criminal offending of this nature."

Assaulting a police officer, for example, could lead to prison. He said a Probation Service recommendation of supervision alone was insufficient to hold Wira to account for her behaviour.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)