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David Saunders
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.
