Rickie James McCutcheon (42) admitted two charges of unlawfully being in a yard, two of interfering with a vehicle and one of wilful damage after he was deemed fit to stand trial following nearly three months in custody.
Counsel Sarah Saunderson-Warner told the Dunedin District Court her client had a variety of mental-health diagnoses which had been complicated by his drug use and compounded by his decision not to take his medication.
McCutcheon capped a week of erratic behaviour in Auckland and Dunedin when he turned up at the Pak’nSave car park on March 20.
At 6am, staff were unloading the daily deliveries while the defendant verbally abused them.
Concerned about his escalating recalcitrance, they closed the doors and asked McCutcheon to leave.
When his banging and ranting ceased, staff called police.
Meanwhile, McCutcheon found a forklift, which had been being used to unload the deliveries, with the keys in the ignition.
The defendant took the vehicle on a joyride around the car park before approaching a vacant Honda Civic.
He used the forklift arms to raise the car off the ground and police found it in that elevated position when they arrived.
McCutcheon remained aggressive during his arrest but admitted the crimes.
The court heard how the defendant had been involved in other odd shenanigans in Auckland only a week prior, after breaking up with his partner.
First he was caught peering into a Blockhouse Bay lounge, then he ran off and hid in a bush when confronted.
Hours later McCutcheon began punching and kicking a vehicle, seemingly at random.
He snapped off the windscreen wipers and used them as a weapon to cause further damage before the driver took off.
When police interviewed him his only explanation was that he was ‘‘sick of the gangs trying to get him’’.
Judge Jim Large said McCutcheon’s mental state was more settled now and his punishment had been served by the four months he had spent behind bars.
He imposed 15 months’ intensive supervision to support the man’s rehabilitation.
The defendant was banned from alcohol and drug use during that period.
