Man jailed over death of cyclist back in court

Nicholas James Dryland in the Hamilton District Court in 2013 in relation to the fatal accident. Photo / Alan Gibson

A Hamilton man who was jailed for crashing into a group of cyclists, killing one, is back before the courts again, this time for assaulting his partner on two occasions.

An emotional Nicholas James Dryland was in the Hamilton District Court this morning for sentencing on two charges of male assaults female and one of intentional damage of a hallway door.

Mr Dryland was jailed for 12 months in 2014 for ploughing into 49-year-old cyclist Craig Goulsbro and his friends as they cycled along Puketaha Rd near Gordonton on July 1, 2013.

The crash also inflicted serious injuries on William Donaldson and Christopher Smith for which he admitted two additional charges of aggravated careless use of a motor vehicle causing injury.

He was disqualified from driving for two and a half years but was back before the court twice after his release charged with driving while disqualified.

In regards to today's hearing, Dryland, now 24, earlier admitted the charges which came about from separate incidents in February. Dryland was involved in an argument with his mother when he punched the hallway door four times and so hard that it caused it to split and buckle.

Later that month, he drove his motorbike at his partner before kicking her in the stomach as he drove past.

That same night the pair became involved in an argument when Dryland grabbed her wrist and pushed it into her face, making her fall on the bed. He then pushed her up against the hallway wall by pushing his forearm up under her face.

Dryland's lawyer Rob Quin says his client had since paid the reparation to fix the door and had met his mother and the victim in restorative justice hearings.

He says his mother had withdrawn her support for her son as he hadn't been taking his mental health medication.

However, after two separate stints - totalling eight weeks - behind bars since his arrest, Dryland has seen the error of his ways and promised not to lash out in the future.

Sentencing him to 12 months' intensive supervision and 90 hours' community work, Judge Rosemary Riddell says he should count his lucky stars that his mother and his partner - who were in court to support him along with his friends - still wanted to help him.

An emotional Dryland nodded in agreement before he was led away from the dock.

The judge also made a condition of his sentence that he continue to take his medication.