A Gore man spat at and threatened to kill an animal control officer after he was told he would have to pay a fine to get his mother’s dog released from the pound.
Horizon Tamati-Smith (26) went to the Napier Animal Control pound on May 2 last year.
After telling the officer he was there to pick up his mother’s bull dog, Tamati-Smith became angry when he was advised of the fee required to release the dog.
‘‘You said you were going to find out where the victim lived and you were going to kill him — you repeated it three times.’’
Tamati-Smith then punched the perspex window and kicked a door at the pound, then went outside and picked up a large wooden post before dropping it on the ground again.
He eventually left, but it was after the animal control officer closed the gate that Tamati-Smith spat at the victim, spittle falling on his head, face and jacket, Judge Large said.
‘‘Your behaviour that day was appalling.
‘‘He did not deserve to be spat at, he did not deserve to be threatened. You had no right to make the demands that you did.’’
Probation yesterday opposed the defendant receiving a sentence of community work as he had stopped his previous community work sentence telling them not to contact him and he would do it when he could.
‘‘Clearly, you’ve got anger-management issues,’’ Judge Large said.
‘‘You just don’t like being told what to do.’’
Tamati-Smith was sentenced to 100 hours’ community work and 12 months’ supervision and ordered to pay the victim $250 for emotional harm.
