'Meltdown' blamed for string of crimes

A Tauranga man's "midlife crisis meltdown" ended after he was arrested for wilful damage in a "political protest" against Burger King's pay rates.

In the Tauranga District Court yesterday, Brady Waddington, 50, a trainee teacher from the Avenues, pleaded guilty to two charges each of wilful damage, dangerous driving and driving with excess blood alcohol, and to one charge of reckless driving.

He also pleaded guilty to one charge of disorderly behaviour and driving his BMW motorcycle on a suspended licence.

The offences happened between January 6 and April 9, and included the night of January 29 when people dining along the Strand saw him driving his Ford Festiva recklessly.

His dangerous driving included tailgating, making an aggressive u-turn, narrowly missing an oncoming car and driving into a bollard and over the footpath, just missing several members of the public.

Waddington then drove straight through the Willow St-Wharf St intersection at excessive speeds. When stopped by police in Cameron Rd he refused to give his address or date of birth, or let a doctor examine him.

The two wilful damage charges relate to Waddington's "political protest against Burger King's minimum wage", when on March 22 he tossed a small statue of an eagle through the front window of the chain's Elizabeth St branch. At the time it was not reported to the police but the window cost $900 to replace.

On April 19 Waddington threw a small wooden carving through the window, which again cost $900 to replace, but this time he was found nearby by a security guard.

Defence lawyer Glenn Dixon told community magistrate Heather White the only explanation he could give for his client's offending was a "midlife crisis meltdown".

Mr Dixon said Waddington had undergone alcohol counselling and had his life back on track.

He suggested an appropriate sentence would be 250 hours' community work, disqualification from holding a driving licence for a significant period, and reparation orders.

Ms White agreed.

"You certainly did have a midlife crisis meltdown, Mr Waddington, and from what I have been told today, you are now on your way back up again and it is now up to you to ensure you keep on track to get your life back together again."

Waddington was convicted on all charges. He was ordered to complete 250 hours of community work and disqualified from holding a driving licence for 18 months.

He was also ordered to pay $1800 reparation to Burger King for the two broken windows, $4445 in relation to one of the dangerous driving charges and the reckless driving charge, and $579 towards medical costs.