Man pleads guilty to driving into courthouse

The Wanganui District Court, the day after the incident. Photo / Herald on Sunday

A man who pleaded guilty to deliberately driving his car into the front doors of the Wanganui District Court has been ordered to enter into compulsory care following a psychiatric report.

Dean Anthony Thompson, 48, was charged with intentional damage after he drove his car up the front steps of the courthouse and into the front doors on March 23.

He then reversed and ran into them again, smashing the glass doors.

He later said he did it because he was "frustrated with the system".

Following his guilty plea, a psychiatric report was ordered.

The report recommended he be treated as a patient, and he was likely to pose a serious danger to himself and others.

Thompson's counsel, Peter Brosnahan, said Thompson understood the recommendation and agreed with it. There was no issue with his fitness to plead.

In Wanganui District Court yesterday, Thompson appeared in front of Judge David Cameron, who said he was satisfied Thompson was mentally disordered and required compulsory care based on the psychiatric report.

It was in his best interests and in the safety of the public. Given the circumstances, no reparation was ordered and a copy of his psychiatric report was allowed to be released to Wanganui Hospital.