KEY POINTS:
A Christchurch man who targeted the wrong policeman in a graffiti attack, alleging he was a rapist and threatening the officer's family, has admitted wilful damage and intimidation charges.
The 29-year-old unemployed man, who was granted interim name suppression in Christchurch District Court today, spray-painted the officer's name, with accusations and threats in letters 1m high over 13 business premises in the city last September.
He pleaded guilty today to 13 counts of wilful damage and a charge of writing threatening words with intent to intimidate, which replaced a charge of threatening to kill.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Ash Tabb said the graffiti included some 13 references to police as "rapists", and "sex offenders".
Seven references related to threats to kill the police officer and his family and gave the officer's name, work contact phone number and postal address.
Mr Tabb said the graffiti included the words "Kill all Cops", "Rapist Cops Will Die" and one referring to shooting police.
But the man targeted the wrong policeman, the court was told.
Mr Tabb said an associate of the man made a complaint to police on September 9 relating to allegations against another police officer. The sergeant who dealt with the complaint gave out his business card.
When the defendant came into possession of the business card he wrongly concluded it belonged to the officer at the centre of the complaint.
Overnight on September 9, the man sprayed his messages in black paint across the walls and fences of 13 business premises in the Birmingham Drive area, including Addington Raceway.
Mr Tabb said the man denied the offending when first approached by police.
Reparation was sought for work to remove the graffiti.
Counsel Tony Greig sought continued bail for the man and asked for interim name suppression at least until sentencing.
Judge John Bisphan convicted the man and remanded him to January 22 for sentence, noting that the suppression issue would be argued again at sentencing.
- NZPA
