Morton Maneulele Broughton, 56, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday and was sentenced to seven months’ jail.
He earlier pleaded guilty to six charges of wilful damage and assault.
The court heard that on October 9 last year, the defendant was homeless and pushing his belongings in a shopping trolley.
Just after midnight, he was drunk, and used the cart to smash the front windows and doors of six premises in Stuart St.
His actions were captured on CCTV and members of the public alerted police to the incident.
When officers found the defendant, he was agitated and was pepper-sprayed before being arrested.
The following month, the defendant got on to a bus at the bus hub and argued with the driver about his card balance.
He threatened the victim by faking a punch and was asked to leave, which he refused to do.
The defendant then punched the driver twice in the face, breaking his glasses.
He then grabbed the man by the scruff of his shirt before letting go and getting off the bus.
Yesterday, counsel John Westgate said Broughton was homeless so could not finish an electronically monitored sentence.
Judge Deidre Orchard said because of this, prison was the only option.
She said the bus driver was vulnerable and Broughton had ‘‘no business’’ assaulting him.
The judge acknowledged the defendant’s mental health struggles, but also noted he had a history of similar offending.
Along with the prison sentence, Judge Orchard ordered the defendant to pay $868 for the bus driver’s broken glasses.
