Growling at library staff in an animalistic and menacing manner was a man’s reaction when asked to stop sleeping on a bench there.
Stephen Leslie Boreham, 44, of Dunedin, had been warned several times in July and August it was against library policy to allow patrons to sleep there or rest books on their face.
But on September 1, seen sleeping on a bench in the Dunedin Central library with an open book covering his face and asked to stop the behaviour, Boreham did not co-operate. He told staff to "piss off", ignored them and police who requested he leave, and feigned reading a newspaper.
Eventually arrested after refusing to engage, he pulled away from the constable, swearing loudly and making combative comments.
Handcuffed after being cautioned he would be pepper-sprayed if he continued to resist arrest, he kicked out at a workstation and threatened a staff member behind it, saying "I know you, I saw you yesterday, when I get out you’re done".
While being escorted to the police station, he threatened the arresting officer and three members of the public. In explanation, he said he was looking for a confrontation and enjoyed getting a rise out of people.
Boreham was sentenced in the Dunedin District Court on Thursday on charges of speaking and behaving threateningly, trespass and resisting police.
Representing himself, Boreham asked for a sentence of supervision stating it would serve more of a purpose than prison. He identified support as a key need, adding he had "a history".
Judge David Robinson said Boreham’s behaviour had been "entirely consistent" with his history.
Imposing two months’ jail (with six months’ release conditions), he noted Boreham did not appear particularly remorseful and had previously had both rehabilitative and prison sentences.
