Man who stripped in laundrette avoids jail

A man who stripped in a launderette and committed several other public nuisance offences has been fined a total of $1000, to be paid in $20 fortnightly instalments.

Christchurch District Court judge Stephen Erber said there was little point in sentencing Kenneth Hunter Georgeson, 45, to jail at the public expense.

He had already been in custody a week, which "would have done him no harm", Judge Erber said, also noting in frustration, "this is a waste of time".

A special condition of the sentencing was that Georgeson paid $80 for the cost of a jacket he had stolen -- by 2pm -- or be arrested and go to prison for three months.

Georgeson faced charges of trespass, indecent exposure, breaking a liquor prohibition, intentional damage, and disorderly behaviour.

He had entered a launderette on July 21, took his clothes off in front of several adults and two children, and put them in a machine.

He was drinking a bottle of beer when police arrived.

The other charges of intentional damage arose from his behaviour at a medical centre a month earlier where he had frightened staff, swore at them and swept items off the counter.

Judge Erber accepted he had no other clothes when he went to the laundrette.

He said Georgeson had problems with alcohol and gambling and had not been attending a problem gambling course.

"You are a nuisance and liquor is entirely to blame for your behaviour," Judge Erber said.

- NZPA