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A man who attempted to douse a police officer with a bucket of water has been fined after being found guilty of obstructing a police officer.
Gerald Belshaw, 34, appeared in Dannevirke District Court yesterday where he was fined $710, and disqualified from driving for two months.
The Manawatu Standard reported Belshaw failed to stop at an intersection in Woodville on September 13.
The court was told when police tried to stop him, he drove to a petrol station and began to fill his car up with petrol.
After first refusing requests to provide his details, he eventually produced his licence. But when the officer went back to his car Belshaw followed, attempted to snatch the infringement book and yanked the keys out of the ignition, throwing them across the forecourt.
He then got a bucket of water and tried to pour it over the officer before lobbing it at the patrol vehicle.
The newspaper said Belshaw protested to Judge Gregory Ross that the failing to stop claim was a trumped-up charge.
"I pled guilty just to get it out of the system, but I'm actually innocent eh."
On being fined and disqualified Belshaw stormed from the court, smashing the door with his fist and yelling "idiot".
- NZPA
