Latest news with #GoreDistrictCourt
Otago Daily Times
15-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Meth ‘contributing factor' in theft
A man who siphoned over $6900 worth of petrol from a Gore self-service station did so because he was using methamphetamine and had lost his job at the meat works, a court has heard. Ricky John Byron, 37, of Gore, was before the Gore District Court last week on two charges of burglary for taking the petrol on nine occasions between January 19 and February 21. The man was also charged with having weapons in his car, breaching the Search and Surveillance Act and possessing goods capable of being used to commit a crime. Defence counsel Scott Williamson said his client was "obviously" using methamphetamine, and had lost his job at Waitane Meat Works before carrying out those crimes. The police summary said Byron approached the unmanned station in January. He covered a CCTV camera with a towel before climbing a 91 octane petrol fuel tank, the summary said. Unscrewing a vent, he inserted a hose into the tank and used a pump powered by a car battery to siphon fuel, before leaving the site about 3.45am. He then repeatedly revisited the station to steal petrol early in the morning, stealing an amount worth a total of $6932.71. On the last time police found him in his car at 3.11am and arrested him. A search of his car by police revealed a knife in a leather sheath in the front passenger seat and a black baseball bat in the rear left passenger footwell. The meat works had agreed to rehire the man when it reopened at the end of the month, though he would be stripped of his seniority, Mr Williamson said. Judge Mark Williams acknowledged Byron had lost his job and was struggling to make ends meet. The judge said the defendant had accepted it was a stupid thing to do, though driven by financial needs, and expressed remorse. "It comes as no surprise that methamphetamine was a contributing factor," Judge Williams said. He said it was better the man work than go to prison. Byron was sentenced to two months' community detention with a curfew of 7pm-6am and nine months' supervision — "just to keep an eye on things", the judge said.
RNZ News
03-07-2025
- RNZ News
Man charged with manslaughter over death of Jack Stephens in ute crash
Police were called to the ute rollover in Southland on the night of 15 February. Photo: Calvin Samuel A 20-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter over a single-vehicle crash in Southland earlier this year. Jack Victor Hugh Stephens of Tahakopa died in the crash on Niagara-Tokanui Highway on 15 February. Police said they were alerted to the crash where a ute rolled between McManus Rd and Quarry Hills Fortification Rd at 8.35pm that day. Despite the efforts of emergency services Stephens, 20, died at the scene. Two other occupants suffered serious to critical injuries. At the time, the Serious Crash Unit conduced a scene examination and police established an investigation. "Today, police charged a 20-year-old man in relation to the incident," a spokesperson said. The young man was due to appear in Gore District Court on 30 July charged with manslaughter. Police said they were unable to comment further with the matter now before the courts. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
10-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Clinton man growing more than veges
A South Otago organic farmer had cannabis growing on his rural property and a safe full of guns under his bed, a court has heard. Wairuna Organics owner Shaun James McVicker, 61, was before the Gore District Court last Wednesday for possessing the guns and ammunition without a licence, and growing and possessing cannabis on his 10-acre (0.4ha) Clinton farm. The police summary said a police search warrant was executed on the semi-rural property on March 4, discovering a Winchester shotgun, a .22 calibre Norinco bolt-action rifle, a .303 Lee Enfield bolt-action rifle, a .22 cali bolt-action rifle and ammunition locked in a safe in his bedroom. The ammunition in the safe consisted of 342 .22 calibre live rounds, 72 live shotgun rounds and 20 .303 calibre live rounds. McVicker said he used the firearms to protect his certified organic produce, the summary said. Also found were five mature cannabis plants growing in soil and a glass jar containing 43.32gm of cannabis head. In court, Judge Duncan Harvey said he was unsure at first which crops the defendant said he was protecting — his vegetables or his cannabis. "After I found out a bit more about you, I now understand what you meant by that," the judge said. "You are an organic farmer, you've been growing vegetables for many, many years, and I accept that that is what you were referring to." Judge Harvey said the man's response was essentially "so what" to the cannabis. The judge also said the case was unusual as the firearms were locked in a safe, as opposed to being left strewn about the place. "He behaves as if he has a firearms licence, but unfortunately he has not." Defence counsel John Fraser said his client led a relatively reclusive life on his organic farm. McVicker said he no longer held firearms and now had other community members come to shoot the rabbits on his property. The court heard the man had health issues and was self-medicating with the cannabis, but had since got a legal prescription for the drug. "I am satisfied that your use of cannabis has been solely for your own purposes," the judge said. "There is no suggestion that you have been selling that cannabis or supplying that cannabis to anybody else." It was "quite clear" the vegetable-grower had a history of cannabis use due to his prior convictions, the judge said, but he had no previous firearms convictions. The man had letters from the the community speaking highly of his character, the judge said. "It is clear that you have done an enormous amount of good in your community, and I suspect you continue to do so," Judge Harvey said. For the possession of firearms, ammunition, cultivating and possessing the cannabis, the judge sentenced McVicker to 150 hours' community service. The judge said that so Corrections could "keep an eye on his health", the defendant was sentenced to 12 months' supervision.
Otago Daily Times
04-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Organic farmer says illegal guns 'to protect his veggies'
A South Otago organic farmer had cannabis growing on his rural property and a safe full of guns under his bed, a court has heard. Wairuna Organics owner Shaun James McVicker, 61, was before the Gore District Court yesterday for possessing the guns and ammunition without a licence, and growing and possessing cannabis on his 10-acre Clinton farm. The police summary said a police search warrant was executed on the semi-rural property on March 4, discovering a Winchester shotgun, a .22 calibre Norinco bolt-action rifle, a .303 Lee Enfield bolt-action rifle, a .22 cali bolt-action rifle and ammunition locked in a safe in his bedroom. The ammunition in the safe consisted of 342 .22 calibre live rounds, 72 live shotgun rounds and 20 .303 calibre live rounds. McVicker said he used the firearms to protect his certified organic produce, the summary said. Also found were five mature cannabis plants growing in soil and a glass jar containing 43.32gm of cannabis head. In court, Judge Duncan Harvey said he was unsure at first which crops the defendant said he was protecting — his vegetables or his cannabis. "After I found out a bit more about you, I now understand what you meant by that," the judge said. "You are an organic farmer, you've been growing vegetables for many, many years, and I accept that that is what you were referring to." Judge Harvey said the man's response was essentially "so what" to the cannabis. The judge also said the case was unusual as the firearms were locked in a safe, as opposed to being left strewn about the place. "He behaves as if he has a firearms licence, but unfortunately he has not." Defence counsel John Fraser said his client led a relatively reclusive life on his organic farm. McVicker said he no longer held firearms and now had other community members come to shoot the rabbits on his property. The court heard the man had health issues and was self-medicating with the cannabis, but had since got a legal prescription for the drug. "I am satisfied that your use of cannabis has been solely for your own purposes," the judge said. "There is no suggestion that you have been selling that cannabis or supplying that cannabis to anybody else." It was "quite clear" the vegetable-grower had a history of cannabis use due to his prior convictions, the judge said, but he had no previous firearms convictions. The man had letters from the the community speaking highly of his character, the judge said. "It is clear that you have done an enormous amount of good in your community, and I suspect you continue to do so," Judge Harvey said. For the possession of firearms, ammunition, cultivating and possessing the cannabis, the judge sentenced McVicker to 150 hours' community service. The judge said that so Corrections could "keep an eye on his health", the defendant was sentenced to 12 months' supervision.
Otago Daily Times
04-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Cannabis-growing organic farmer says illegal guns 'to protect his veggies'
A South Otago organic farmer had cannabis growing on his rural property and a safe full of guns under his bed, a court has heard. Wairuna Organics owner Shaun James McVicker, 61, was before the Gore District Court yesterday for possessing the guns and ammunition without a licence, and growing and possessing cannabis on his 10-acre Clinton farm. The police summary said a police search warrant was executed on the semi-rural property on March 4, discovering a Winchester shotgun, a .22 calibre Norinco bolt-action rifle, a .303 Lee Enfield bolt-action rifle, a .22 cali bolt-action rifle and ammunition locked in a safe in his bedroom. The ammunition in the safe consisted of 342 .22 calibre live rounds, 72 live shotgun rounds and 20 .303 calibre live rounds. McVicker said he used the firearms to protect his certified organic produce, the summary said. Also found were five mature cannabis plants growing in soil and a glass jar containing 43.32gm of cannabis head. In court, Judge Duncan Harvey said he was unsure at first which crops the defendant said he was protecting — his vegetables or his cannabis. "After I found out a bit more about you, I now understand what you meant by that," the judge said. "You are an organic farmer, you've been growing vegetables for many, many years, and I accept that that is what you were referring to." Judge Harvey said the man's response was essentially "so what" to the cannabis. The judge also said the case was unusual as the firearms were locked in a safe, as opposed to being left strewn about the place. "He behaves as if he has a firearms licence, but unfortunately he has not." Defence counsel John Fraser said his client led a relatively reclusive life on his organic farm. McVicker said he no longer held firearms and now had other community members come to shoot the rabbits on his property. The court heard the man had health issues and was self-medicating with the cannabis, but had since got a legal prescription for the drug. "I am satisfied that your use of cannabis has been solely for your own purposes," the judge said. "There is no suggestion that you have been selling that cannabis or supplying that cannabis to anybody else." It was "quite clear" the vegetable-grower had a history of cannabis use due to his prior convictions, the judge said, but he had no previous firearms convictions. The man had letters from the the community speaking highly of his character, the judge said. "It is clear that you have done an enormous amount of good in your community, and I suspect you continue to do so," Judge Harvey said. For the possession of firearms, ammunition, cultivating and possessing the cannabis, the judge sentenced McVicker to 150 hours' community service. The judge said that so Corrections could "keep an eye on his health", the defendant was sentenced to 12 months' supervision.
