Shower proves costly

A shower and an ''attitude'' have cost an Austrian woman $20.

The 30-year-old appeared in front of Judge Joanna Maze in the Oamaru District Court yesterday to face a charge of being unlawfully in a building, namely shower facilities at the Omarama Top 10 Holiday Park.

Camping ground co-owner Tony Chapman told the Otago Daily Times that at least once a week he had to deal with people trying to use his facilities without paying.

He said he understood making the woman go to court could be seen as a waste of time, but it was her attitude about the situation he wanted addressed.

To use the showers at the camp, people had to stay the night, he said, and the woman was not a guest.

He said the cost of the shower the woman had was hard to work out, but when the cost of amenities such as electricity were worked out, coupled with other people also trying to obtain services for free, it all added up.

The police summary of facts stated the woman walked into the camping ground on January 31.

She went into the shower block, which had been closed for cleaning, ignoring the closed signs and going under a rope over the entrance.

She then had a shower.

A staff member, who was in a neighbouring cubicle, challenged the woman who ignored him and continued to shower. She then left.

When police caught up with her, the woman said she had intended to pay for the shower on leaving the camping ground.

The woman was discharged without conviction and ordered to pay $20 reparation.

shannon.gillies@odt.co.nz