Judge's warning for 'drunken yobbos'

Families in Alexandra for the town's annual blossom festival should not have their enjoyment hampered by "drunken young yobbos", Judge David Saunders told the Alexandra District Court yesterday.

When dealing with the three men charged separately for offending committed in relation to the September festival, he said it was becoming an expensive weekend for what was supposed to have been fun.

"If you come to the blossom festival with the intent of getting drunk and behaving like a nuisance then expect the weekend to become very expensive," Judge Saunders warned.

"One thing that needs to be got across is families come to Alexandra to enjoy the festival and they don't need to have their enjoyment hampered by drunken young yobbos who come into the town," he said.

Addressing one of the young men, Michael Andrew McKee (17), labourer, of Oamaru, who admitted acting in a disorderly manner, Judge Saunders said: "You need to grow up and act your age; not go out and get drunk."

To another, Mark George Naylor (26), carpenter, of Earnscleugh, who admitted threatening to injure a constable and interfering with a police car, Judge Saunders said, "This offending was high-spirited hijinks.

"But you are not a first offender. You have had disorderly behaviour, resisting police, wilful trespass, escaping, and trespass convictions."

The third man, Jason Campbell Harpur (27), electrician, of Gore, admitted intentionally obstructing a constable and was sentenced to 50 hours' community work.

McKee and Naylor were convicted and fined, with court costs, taking the cost for each of them to more than $800.

A further 28 people arrested for offences committed in and around Alexandra during the 2008 blossom festival in Sep-tember are expected to appear before Judge Saunders in the Alexandra court today.