Two months in jail for threatening to kill police officer

A Mongrel Mob member was jailed for two months yesterday for attacking an off-duty police officer in a Palmerston North bar.

Andrew Richard Waara pleaded guilty in Palmerston North District Court to threatening to kill the officer.

Police prosecutor Stu Oram said the incident happened in the early hours of December 19 last year, when Waara noticed off-duty policeman Andrew Royds and his girlfriend drinking at the Murphy's Law bar.

Waara and an associate stood in front of Mr Royds and said: "I'm going to smash you, you pig. Come outside and I'll f***ing kill you".

He then removed his jacket to display his Mongrel Mob waistcoat and patch.

Bar security staff then tried to remove Waara from the premises, but he grabbed hold of Mr Royds' shirt and dragged him toward the door as well.

He was restrained by security staff and arrested shortly afterward.

Mr Oram said Mr Royds feared for his and his girlfriend's safety.

Waara's counsel, Tony Thackeray, said his client had had a bad day, and had gone to the pub to get over it.

His child had died while he was in prison, and he hadn't been able to attend the funeral.

He had also been having domestic problems since his release on December 6.

Mr Thackeray said his client had no particular grievance against the policeman involved, and was simply looking for someone to fight.

- NZPA