Man jailed after assaults on cyclists

A man who assaulted two cyclists in separate incidents in Portsmouth Dr/Fryatt St has been jailed.

Jonathon Paul Auchterlonie (57), of Dunedin, was sentenced to one year and one month's jail when he appeared in the Dunedin District Court today.

The first victim, a 45-year-old woman, was riding about 3.30pm on December 5 when Auchterlonie started waving towards her as she approached.

When she went to pass him, he stepped in front of her, stopped her, then punched her once in the hip and three times in the ribs before lifting her and her bicycle up and throwing both to the ground.

Two German tourists saw the assault and went running to the woman's aid and Auchterlonie ran off.

About ten minutes later, two men in their 60s were cycling along Fryatt St towards Portsmouth Dr.

Walking towards them, Auchterlonie started gesturing with his arms. The men got closer and, seeing he was intoxicated, swerved to go around him.

As one man (66) rode past, Auchterlonie stepped towards him and punched him once in the ribs.

Both cyclists then carried on cycling.

As a result of the assault on her, the woman victim had bruised ribs. The male victim was not injured.

Judge Kevin Phillips told Auchterlonie the woman victim, a very keen triathlete, was still not over what happened to her that day.

She had to put up with the pain of bruised and fractured
ribs.

There was nothing she could do waiting for it to heal and it limited her physical activity.

Dunedin had, for her, been a very safe city. She had now totally lost confidence about running or cycling in the city.

The male victim was not physically injured "but is shocked by your action...he works with the woman victim and sees every day the trauma you have caused."

Public defender Andrew More said it was accepted a sentence of imprisonment was the only possible outcome. Aggravating factors were the unprovoked nature of the offending and it being street violence.

In mitigation, Auchterlonie pleaded guilty. He had head injures "quite some time ago". It was conceded they were aggravated by his alcohol abuse. He was a long-time alcoholic.

Auchterlonie had some remorse "but difficulty in expressing that". Restorative justice was not able to proceed.

 

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