Tom Collet cut down billboard for Reality Check Radio then punched man who put it back up

A billboard for Reality Check Radio, similar to that cut down in Riwaka in the Tasman District.

A man was so offended by a billboard advertising independent radio station Reality Check Radio he cut it down with a battery-operated saw.

When it was put back up, Thomas Mark Collet returned with a bucket of paint. When the man who had restored the sign confronted him, a verbal exchange ended in a fist fight - and court charges.

Collet, of Marahau near Motueka, admitted charges of wilful damage and common assault in the Nelson District Court on Monday.

Judge Richard Russell told him while remanding him to appear again next month, that while he might have had a view about the billboard, other people were entitled to their views, which must be respected.

“By damaging the sign and assaulting a person you have broken the law,” Judge Russell said.

At about midday on February 5 this year, Collet, 58, was on Kaiteriteri Rd near Motueka.

Police said he took exception to the billboard in a nearby paddock so walked over and cut it down.

The victim in the matter noticed the sign had been cut down and picked it back up.

Just after 3pm on the same day, Collet returned to the site, saw the sign was back up, so went back into the paddock carrying a 10-litre paint container, and poured paint over the billboard.

The victim confronted him as he returned to his vehicle, and then tried to prevent him from leaving by blocking the driver’s door.

The ensuing verbal exchange became heated and Collet punched the man in the face with a closed fist, cutting him under the eye.

Members of the public intervened while Collet got into his vehicle and left.

He later told the police he had damaged the sign and that he had punched the victim because “he had asked him to”.

Judge Russell said restorative justice would be explored to see if it might help “clear the air” between Collet and the victim.

“You’ve been out of trouble for a long time now so hopefully this was a ‘one-off’,” he said.

Tracy Neal is a Nelson-based Open Justice reporter at NZME. She was previously RNZ’s regional reporter in Nelson-Marlborough and has covered general news, including court and local government for the Nelson Mail.