Three Spanish tourists spent three hours in Te Anau yesterday
picking up human waste after being caught by police for
defecating on the grass verge at the end of a residential
street.
The trio "volunteered" for community work as an alternative
to a court appearance, Sergeant Tod Hollebon, of Te Anau,
said in a statement yesterday.
Acting on a complaint from a member of the public, police
found two women and a man near a rental van, which was not
equipped with a toilet.
"There was washing drying on a fence and clearly the group
had made themselves at home."
After initially denying their activities, they admitted they
had been using an "outside toilet".
They provided no other explanation for their behaviour other
than having arrived after dark.
As an alternative to a court appearance, the three tourists
volunteered for community service.
They spent three hours "picking up exactly what they and
others had deposited" around Te Anau roadside rest areas.
"All parties found this to be a positive outcome," Sgt
Hollebon said.
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