Wild drive leads to charge of wilful damage

Press, 5 July 1983, Page 8

Wild drive leads to charge of wilful damage

PA Auckland A man tried to get back at his former wife by churning up the grass verge at her address with his vehicle — but got the wrong place, the District Court at Auckland heard yesterday. The man, Bruce William Blick, aged 27, a mechanic, of Maramarua, admitted a charge that on Saturday he intentionally damaged a tree and a grass verge, the property of the Auckland City Council. The Court heard that just before midnight on Saturday Blick drove his four-wheel-drive vehicle on to a grass verge in Point Chevalier and gouged a large furrow in the grass. The address was that of a community constable and was clearly signposted. Blick returned about 20 minutes later and gouged another furrow in the verge. The second time the defendant also ripped out a tree and post as he drove along the verge, the Court

was told. Blick was watched both times by the constable and was found a short time later. Blick readily admitted the offence when spoken to by the police. He told them he had wanted to get back at his former wife. He said that he had been drinking and was sorry for his actions. He did not realise that the policeman lived at the place concerned, while his wife was at the neighbouring address. Judge Callander described the incident as an act of stupidity. He convicted Blick and remanded him on $3OO bail to July 25 for a report and sentence. The Judge advised Blick that he would deal with him more leniently at sentence if he apologised to the policeman, dug up the damaged lawn, resowed the grass, and replanted the tree and post. If not, the Judge added, he would “hammer” him.