A Whangarei thief who allegedly targeted tourists has been jailed for a month for swearing at the judge who had just remanded him in custody over the busy Christmas New Year visitor period.
Hoori Jordan Puriri, 21, appeared in Whangarei District Court on Tuesday on a number of charges, including four of unlawfully interfering with a motor vehicle, two of theft of a handbag, one of theft of a wallet, one of dangerous driving and another of failing to stop for police.
Judge Duncan Harvey declined bail, saying Puriri's charges related to the targeting of tourists' vehicles at various places around Whangarei. Judge Harvey then remanded Puriri in custody until February 3 so he would be out of circulation for the busy visitor period.
As Puriri was being led from the dock he swore at Judge Harvey at least twice, prompting the judge to tell his lawyer, Leon Penney, to go and have a word with Puriri in the cells below the court before calling him back to the dock an hour or so later.
Mr Penney then said Puriri's outburst was because he was frustrated at being remanded in custody and away from his family over the Christmas period.
Judge Harvey told the prisoner: "For you to speak to me like that in open court when members of the public are in the back of the court is simply unacceptable. Through your lawyer you did not even offer an apology."
He sentenced Puriri to one month's jail for his foul-mouthed outburst.
