The Latest from Crime

A man has bitten a police dog while fleeing police. The 33-year-old man was due to appear in New Plymouth District Court today on a number of driving, dishonesty and violence charges. Between 9.30pm and 10.30pm yesterday, the man allegedly crashed his vehicle into several parked cars and other structures in the suburb of Bell Block. When the vehicle became inoperable, he broke into a residential property and demanded the occupant's car keys. He took the vehicle and again drove recklessly, crashing into parked cars. After abandoning the second vehicle, police believe the man approached the occupants of two addresses on Parklands Ave and demanded keys to their vehicles. Detective Sergeant Gerard Bouterey says the man was located by police a short time later but he fled the scene."A police dog was used to track him down but the man has fought with the dog, slamming it into the ground and a concrete wall, and biting its head."The dog is recovering well, he's now at home with his handler and is not expected to suffer any long-term side effects." The man was also injured and was taken to hospital."There were a number of people who contacted police at the time of these events, but any further witnesses are urged to come forward," Detective Sergeant Bouterey says."Also, anyone who may have found discarded items on their property or had their vehicle damaged should contact New Plymouth Police on 06 759 5500." Information can also be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A teenager has described the moment a girl woke him up saying a man had just attempted to rape her. The witness - a male relative of the defendant - told the Dunedin District Court yesterday the complainant came into the bedroom early on September 5, 2015, "sobbing"."She was saying David just tried to, you know ... David tried to rape me" he said. Dunedin truck driver David Alan Hill, 44, is on trial accused of the rape and indecent assault of the girl, who was 16 at the time. He followed her into the bedroom and quickly disputed the allegations the teen had made. The witness, who gave evidence yesterday, said Hill contended it had actually been the complainant who tried to initiate the intimate liaison. He seemed "very confused" by the claims, the teen said. The complainant told the jury on Monday the group had drunk bourbon and she had fallen asleep on the couch. She said she woke up to find all her clothes had been removed, she had been turned around and she was being violated. It is the defence case that the complainant pinned Hill to the floor and removed her clothes while demanding intercourse. When he finally agreed to sex, her demeanour changed, counsel Anne Stevens said. While the teens barricaded themselves inside a bedroom using a dresser, Hill slept on the couch. But the furniture was moved during the night for one of them to use the toilet and the defendant was in the bed in the morning. It is alleged the complainant woke to him "grinding" against her behind. When Hill's relative got up, he said he only heard the man talking to the two girls about trucking. The girl who had accused him of the sex attack did not ask to leave the house or ask to use a phone to contact anyone, the witness confirmed during cross-examination. They all had breakfast together before Hill dropped them off in town. The complainant approached police with the allegations six months later, the court heard. In April, Hill was interviewed by Detective Dave Checketts and was adamant he had done nothing illegal. The video of their discussion was played for the jury yesterday."I can tell you now, I'm not a rapist. It's just not in me. I'm not the type of person to do that to anybody," Hill said."I don't actually remember a lot of the night. I was pretty buggered and those drinks were pretty strong." Checketts asked him whether there was any possibility he had sex with the 16-year-old girl."No, I don't think so. I don't recall doing that," Hill said."As far as her saying I raped her, I did not rape her. It's just not what I do." Crown prosecutor Richard Smith said a week after the interview, the defendant went back to police and asked to elaborate on his statement. The video of that meeting will be played for the jury today. The trial before Judge Michael Crosbie and a jury of seven women and four men continues. A male juror was dismissed by the judge on Monday after he fell asleep at least twice during the complainant's evidence. How to get help If you're in danger now: • Phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours of friends to ring for you.• Run outside and head for where there are other people.• Scream for help so that your neighbours can hear you.• If you are being abused, remember it's not your fault. Violence is never okay. Where to go for help or more information: • NZ Police• The Harbour, for those affected by harmful sexual behaviour • Help Auckland 24/7 helpline 09 623 1700• Rape Prevention Education • Wellington Help 24/7 crisisline 04 801 6655, push 0• Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse• Women's Refuge: Free national crisis line operates 24/7 - 0800 REFUGE or 0800 733 843 www.womensrefuge.org.nz• Shine, free national helpline 9am- 11pm every day - 0508 744 633 www.2shine.org.nz • Shakti: Providing specialist cultural services for African, Asian and Middle Eastern women and their children. Crisis line 24/7 0800 742 584• White Ribbon: Aiming to eliminate men's violence towards women, focusing this year on sexual violence and the issue of consent. www.whiteribbon.org.nz

A 17-year-old girl found murdered in Mangere died on Saturday - a day before her body was found at a vacant property, an autopsy has revealed. Police are continuing to make inquiries into the death of a 17-year-old girl in Buckland Road, Mangere. The body of the teenager was found by police at a vacant property late on Sunday evening. A scene examination, including a forensic analysis of the scene, had been completed over the past two days at the address as we seek to piece together what has taken place. A post-mortem examination had also been completed. Detective Inspector Tofilau Faa Vaaelua said the investigation was in its early phases, however police were speaking with several individuals in relation to this matter."Any homicide case is a tragedy, however this case involves a vulnerable young female and we are determined to establish the circumstances surrounding her death, which is the priority in our investigation."We are also offering support to the family of the victim," Vaaelua said. A formal identification of the victim has now been completed but police were not in a position to release the name of the deceased as next of kin are yet to be informed."We appreciate that there is media interest in this matter, however this is a very complex matter and for investigational reasons, we are only able to release limited information at this time."We will provide further information as soon as we are in a position to do so." A Housing New Zealand spokesman told the Herald that the house was one of its properties but said the long-term tenants moved out on June 28.

A cowboy property developer who repeatedly broke the law has been sentenced to two years in jail - the harshest penalty ever handed to a developer. Auckland man Augustine Lau faced 17 charges under the Resource Management and 10 under the Building Act. He repeatedly carried out work without resource consent, undertook earthworks without permission, while one of his dodgy developments saw sewage discharged near a stream. Lau is already serving a 10 week sentence for damaging native trees

A 17-year-old Auckland schoolboy is before the courts on a series of rape charges - and could face more. The teenager appeared in the Youth Court this week after his recent arrest. The Herald cannot identify the teenager as young people appearing in the Youth Court have automatic name suppression. However, his case may be transferred to the District Court due to the seriousness and volume of charges. The presiding Youth Court judge allowed the Herald to report the basic facts of the case but the specifics of the charges cannot be published at this stage. He is facing three charges of raping three different young girls aged under 16. He is also facing a fourth charge of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection relating to a girl aged between 12 and 16. If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone call the confidential crisis helpline on: 0800 227 233 (08002B SAFE). The Herald understands police are speaking to a fifth girl and may be following up other complainants. The teenager was attending high school until his arrest but has been suspended until further notice. He was supported in court by his mother - who wept and dabbed her eyes with a tissue during the short appearance - and siblings. His lawyer sought an adjournment to allow him time to get full disclosure of the allegations from the police and to ascertain whether the case needs to be heard in a higher court. The adjournment was granted and the teen was remanded on bail with strict conditions, until his next court appearance. Police could not comment on the case as it was before the courts. Youth Court - what the media can report The Youth Court is a division of the District Court but has a different set of rules when it comes to reporting proceedings. The Youth Court is not open to the public but media are legally entitled and permitted to attend hearings. Everyone who appears in the Youth Court is subject to a statutory name suppression - meaning their identities can never be revealed. The name of any school attended by young defendants is also suppressed. According to the Youth Court rules, a judge does not need to order suppression of these details as they are automatically suppressed. A judge can never approve publication of these details. There is also prohibition against publication of the proceedings unless the presiding judge gives express permission. In this case today the presiding judge allowed the Herald to report the fact that a young person appeared in court, the charges he is facing and the outcome of today's hearing. SEXUAL ABUSE OR ASSAULTS - WHERE TO GET HELP: If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone call the confidential crisis helpline on: 0800 227 233 (08002B SAFE). If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111. You can also visit the police website for information about reporting sexual crime. http://www.police.govt.nz/advice/victims/victims-rape-or-sexual-assault.

A 25-year-old man has been arrested following an incident that put a 43-year man in hospital. Detective Sergeant Dylan Ross said the assault took place at Mobil petrol station on Saturday night. The victim of the assault was taken to Dunedin Hospital with serious injuries, where he remains in a stable condition."We would like to thank members of the public who have come forward with information which has helped lead us to make an arrest," Ross said. The attacker is due in Dunedin District Court tomorrow, July 12, charged with wounding with reckless disregard.

The identity of the 32-year-old man charged with the murder of 2-year-old Arnica Savage at Te Mahoe, in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, can now be revealed. He is Arnica Savage's father, Rewi Savage. Savage's interim name suppression lapsed today at 5pm. His family had requested his name and his relationship to Arnica be suppressed until after the girl's tangi. Savage appeared in the High Court at Rotorua on July 4, pleading not guilty to murdering the toddler. Police were called to the Matahina Dam area about 6pm on July 1 following the report of a 2-year-old missing in the Rangitaiki River with an adult. After an extensive search and rescue operation, the body of the child was found in the river at about 11pm. Te Mahoe Village houses about 30 families and sits at the base of the Matahina Dam. Savage will reappear in court via audio visual link for a case review hearing on September 5. His trial will start on March 18 next year.

Three men, at least one of them carrying a firearm, fired more than five shots during a rampage through a Hamilton home which killed an aspiring chef and left another man battling horrific injuries, a source claims. Robert Nelson was shot dead while a 17-year-old is fighting for his life in Waikato Hospital after up to three gunmen rained down a series of shots in a Matthews Cres, Melville, house about 1am Sunday. Nelson's partner, Kahlee Marfell who turns 21 at the end of the month, is also recovering from surgery after suffering what is believed to a bullet wound to both femurs after a bullet went through one thigh and ended up in the other. Marfell and other family have spoken out of the heroics of Nelson, who shielded her from bullets after the gunmen stormed inside. Other family are defending Marfell's father, Mongrel Mob member Mark "Griff" Griffiths. Griffiths' niece Nadine Lovini was angry at "judgmental comments about her family because they were connected to the Mongrel Mob". A relative today revealed more of what she claims happened that night. The scene of a fatal shooting on Matthews Cres, Melville, Hamilton. Forensic staff were still at the scene fingerprinting areas of the house. (Photo / Jason Oxenham) She says two or three shooters knocked on the door when everyone was in bed. Marfell got up and answered the door to find the armed men standing there, asking, "Is Mark home". Marfell then walked away through the dining and kitchen area to the top of the hallway but was shot in the femur, or upper thigh, the relative told the Herald. The bullet passed through one leg and penetrated Marfell's other thigh. Griffiths' 17-year-old nephew had been staying at the property for the past few months and heard the ruckus, getting up to confront the intruders. The teen then pushed Marfell behind him, out of harm's way back down the hallway towards her room, and stood in front of the gunmen only to be been shot four times - in the head, shoulder and twice in the torso, the relative said. Forensic staff examine for fingerprints on the sliding door entrance to a garage which had recently been converted into another room at the house. (Photo / Jason Oxenham) Nelson also got up and ran towards the gunmen, shielding Marfell from further gunfire before he was also shot. Meanwhile, Griffiths was in his room and arrived to the bloodied scene with the gunmen having fled, the relative said. She added that Griffiths was now wary of being with other family members for fear of them becoming a target. The relative said she was also upset at rumours the incident was gang-related. Although Griffiths had served jail term for indiscretions he was a loving uncle and someone who was always willing to help others. A relative of those connected to the shooting say the armed offenders knocked on the front door, above, of the Matthews Cres home before storming in and firing shots. Photo / File "He's the most honest, trustworthy, reliable person. He's approachable, he's a fair person, you can talk to him about anything."He's liked by everyone and he's easily contactable. Just because [gang members] wear a patch it doesn't mean they're a bad person." Police have been contacted for comment about the comments as described to the Herald. They issued a statement saying: "As the investigation is ongoing police cannot comment in relation to the points raised." Nelson's sister, Erin, spoke out about the shooting at the weekend. Erin believed the attack was random or a case of mistaken identity. She stressed her brother was an "innocent person caught in the crossfire"."Somebody arrived to the house and attacked about four people inside. There was another person holed up inside who wasn't injured," she said. Marfell also spoke out from her Waikato Hospital bed on Monday morning, thankful at being alive, despite being shot."You get shot f****ing how many times and you are still alive. I think that's a solid effort. That's a solid effort. Still alive," she said. A neighbour today told the Herald he heard at least three "muffled shots" while watching a movie at the time of the shooting. Forensic police were still at the scene today carrying out their investigation, with one armed officer on guard. Meanwhile, a Givealittle page set up for the family of Robert Nelson has so far raised nearly $6500.

The security system at Wellington hospitals, including extremely high-risk mental health inpatient units housing rapists and deranged killers, could fail at any time, according to a leaked report that calls for an urgent upgrade. The document, obtained by the Herald, says the reliability of the security management systems at Wellington Regional Hospital and Kenepuru Hospital posed a "significant and immediate security and safety risk" to staff, patients, and visitors."Security and safety is now being compromised by the system's basic operational reliability," said a detailed business case to upgrade the security system, which was presented to Gina Lomax, executive director at Capital & Coast District Health Board (CCDHB), last month. Wellington Regional Hospital manages the security system for two Mental Health and Intellectual Disability (MHAID) inpatient units: Te Whare o Matairangi at Wellington Hospital and Kenepuru — areas deemed "extremely high risk". Kenepuru's acute forensic inpatient secure unit Purehurehu has housed some of New Zealand's most notorious offenders, found not guilty by reason of insanity, including Leslie Raymond Parr who, in 1997, stabbed and beheaded 31-year-old Fiona Maulolo in her Lower Hutt home, and paranoid schizophrenic Richard Charles Vau Hawkins who knifed his brother Brent to death in 2002. While the CCDHB accepted that improvements need to be made, it responded to Heraldquestions last night to say: "The security systems at all our facilities — including forensic — function and operate as they should to ensure safety and security. "We recognise, however, that integrating various security systems across our facilities would allow for greater efficiency and optimal use of current technology," said Nigel Fairley, mental health, addictions and intellectual disability service general manager."We are currently considering a business case that looks at integrating our electronic security and monitoring network across Wellington Regional Hospital and all mental health inpatient facilities." The DHB refused to discuss details around cost and other operational information, citing commercial sensitivity. The Office of the Minister of Health referred questions around security concerns to the CCDHB, saying it was an operational matter. The report said system failures could result in "unfettered egress from high-risk inpatient facilities" and a failure to respond to "threats, abuse and violence". There had been 1478 violent incidents across Wellington Regional Hospital facilities over the last two years. In January alone, there were 25 incidents involving either restraints, security watches, aggressive patients, suspicious behaviour, trespassed people, or disorderly people on site."These incidents can quickly become life-threatening if not responded to rapidly and effectively," says the stark report, which was penned by CCDHB staff."Recent incidents at Wellington Regional Hospital have included dealing with the potential of gang retribution onsite after the admission of a gunshot victim." The New Zealand Public Service Association (PSA) said it too had "serious concerns" about the security system at Kenepuru Hospital and were concerned for the safety of staff. Strategically placed CCTV records human movement, flow and access in CCDHB areas and at most sites is monitored 24/7 by Orderly Security Services (OSS). It also features a duress system to trigger emergency alarms. But the security system's componentry is reaching end-of-life and both software and hardware are due for upgrades.The business case seeks approval for $429,000 for 2018/19 to make the hardware replacement and systems upgrade required for the organisation to meet statutory obligations to "take all reasonable practicable precautions" to ensure the safety of staff, patients and visitors to DHB premises. PSA national secretary Glenn Barclay said the union had been in discussions with CCDHB."We have heard anecdotal reports of failures and we are concerned for the safety of our members, their patients and others using the hospital," he said."We understand that a business case for replacing the system has been made, and the DHB's preference is to fix the urgent issues with a view to an upgrade in the longer term." Concerns around the safety of Wellington's mental health services emerged last year. A review was ordered after five mental health patients were charged with homicide between February 2015 and March 2016.

A Golden Bay man has been jailed for three years for distributing child sex abuse images and videos after first being detected by American authorities. John Wise-Southwood, 71, was sentenced in the Nelson District Court yesterday, having earlier pleaded guilty to three representative charges of possession and distribution of objectionable images depicting the sexual abuse and exploitation of young girls. One of Wise-Southwood's charges was for the distribution of 26 images uploaded to social media. The other two charges were for possession of more than 2000 objectionable images and videos in a Dropbox account and on a computer. The judge also granted all three orders for forfeiture of electronic devices, destruction of objectionable material, and automatic registration on the child sex offender register for the retired widower living in Takaka. The Department of Internal Affairs' (DIA) censorship manager, Stephen Waugh, said Wise-Southwood's continued use of social media to distribute the images was detected and referred to the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children in the US, which disclosed the material to the censorship team at DIA."Possessing and sharing child sexual abuse images encourages further sexual abuse andexploitation of children," Waugh said."People who download this material perpetuate this nasty industry providing traders with a ready market for the crimes they commit against these young children to create the images."If you deal with this material you will get caught. We have a dedicated team with the expertise to catch these offenders." People concerned with something they have seen which may be objectionable, or want to report a crime, can contact the DIA's censorship compliance unit. Those who are the victim of a child abuse crime, can visit the child abuse directory for information and support.

An Auckland pharmacist has seen his registration cancelled and was banned from reapplying for it for two years after illegally peddling prescription drugs to customers, one of whom died from an overdose. Park Ung Wong, also known as Terrence Wong, owned and operated Birkenhead Avenue Pharmacy, on Auckland's North Shore. However, in 2016 he was criminally convicted in North Shore District Court after pleading guilty to one charge of forgery, three representative charges of creating a criminal nuisance and one charge under the Medicines Act of supplying prescription medication. He was sentenced to 10 months' home detention and 200 hours community service. Wong had also offered to pay $30,000 in reparation to the family of a man who died from an overdose from medication bought from the pharmacist. Now, in a decision released today, the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal cancelled Wong's registration and said his offending was "amongst the most serious for a pharmacist"."The serious patient harm involved for two patients who suffered serious consequences (one died and the other was hospitalised as a result of overdoses), undoubtedly contributed to by Mr Wong's unlawful dispensing to them both," the decision reads."The repeated nature of the offending that displayed a serious lack of insight over a sustained period from September 2013 through to July 2015." For the man who died from an overdose, Wong was aware of the patient's restriction notice and that he was presenting false prescriptions, yet he continued to dispense excessive quantities of prescriptions to him until his death, the decision reads."Despite being made aware of his patient's death in January 2015, Mr Wong did not cease his unsafe dispensing practice but continued to dispense unlawfully to other patients," the tribunal said, following a hearing in April. Wong also tried to hide his crimes by forging a prescription in the name of a doctor to cover up dispensing the drugs to the dead man. Other attempts to cover his tracks included hiding the records of dispensing prescription medicines and providing his personal bank account details to patients for payment. The tribunal said Wong's offending involved significant elements of repeated dishonesty and fundamental breaches of professional obligations."Mr Wong aggravated matters by also leading his pharmacist employee into the same misconduct. Sasha Taylor was also working at Wong's Pharmacy during 2014 and 2015 and followed his boss' criminal lead. The tribunal has also found Taylor, who was working without a current practising certificate, guilty of professional misconduct. The tribunal censured Taylor, suspended his right to practise for two years, ordered that he complete a course on professional ethics before he resumed practising and that he work for a year under the supervision of an approved pharmacist. Wong, the tribunal ruled, had taken advantage of his professional position for financial gain and failed in his duty to act as a gatekeeper for patient safety."We do recognise that Mr Wong has been able to present mitigating features regardinghis guilty plea, potential for rehabilitation and that this is his first offence."However, we were not satisfied that this is an appropriate case for a rehabilitative penalty. Patient safety and the need for professional standard setting must take precedence in this case." The tribunal cancelled Wong's registration but said it will be possible for him to re-apply for registration with the Pharmacy Council after at least two years."In the event that Mr Wong is granted re-registration it is recommended that conditions be imposed that require him to undertake a competency review and that he not be permitted to practice in sole practice for a period determined by the Pharmacy Council," the tribunal said. Wong was also ordered to pay costs of $7700.

A new iwi community justice panel in west Auckland won't be a walk in the park for young Maori offenders, according to academic and former Māori Party co-leader Sir Pita Sharples. Police can refer low-level offenders to the panel for a hearing instead of sending them to court after a new panel, called Te Pae Oranga, launched yesterday. READ MORE: http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/two-schemes-to-cut-crime-announced-for-auckland/ From there offenders will apologise to victims and atone for their crimes. Sir Pita says it will see offenders front up to their mistakes. "If they are Maori then they are expected to learn the technology. It's quite hard for these young people to switch to that. Some people would rather just be locked up." The new panel has the support of lawyer and youth advocate Robyn Fendall, who says sending young people to court normalises crime. Fendall says peer pressure is major factor in young offending - so those offenders will benefit from a second chance."They don't want to actually confront reality and have to do anything about it. Having to come and really talk about why they've done something and what they can do to improve will be huge." She hopes the new panel will get the resourcing it need to go the distance.

A prominent entertainer has appeared in court in relation to an alleged family violence incident. He is fighting to keep his name secret and name suppression was continued today when he appeared in North Shore District Court. The man is charged with injuring with intent. The alleged victim is a woman. Defence lawyer Paul Wicks today entered a not guilty plea on behalf of his client and successfully argued for name suppression to continue. The accused had appeared in court last month and was granted bail. The entertainer's lawyer argued successfully then for interim name suppression, saying the man would suffer extreme hardship if identified because of his job and because he had not yet told his parents or children about the charge.

A man who covered up his flatmate's death by hiding his body and communicating with the dead man's family as if he were alive, has been released on parole. James Grant Cooper, 30, was jailed after being found guilty of the manslaughter of former flatmate Javed Mills, 25, in 2013. Two years earlier, police were alerted after a headless skeleton was discovered at a property in Mt Wellington, Auckland. The body was eventually identified as Auckland man Mills. Cooper later told authorities he had killed Mills accidentally, in self defence, during an altercation. He hid his flatmate's body and later smashed Mills' skull before disposing fragments of it at the house next door. Cooper appeared at a Parole Board hearing last month for further consideration of parole on a seven years and three month sentence for manslaughter and obstructing or defeating the course of justice. It is understood he is being released to an address in Tauranga. A decision put out by the Board said: "The facts of this offending are unusual."Mr Cooper got into an altercation with a friend who was living in the shed at the back of the property."Mr Cooper inflicted a fatal blow during an argument and then took steps to conceal the facts of his death.'' The board noted that Cooper's sole other criminal conviction was for a driving offence - driving while disqualified. Board members were also told by a psychologist Cooper had been identified as being "low risk'' in the community. Cooper's release this month is subject to standard and special conditions of release for six months past his statutory release date - September 6, 2019."One of those conditions is that he will be subject to tightly controlled residential for at least the first three months of his release,'' the board said."Those restrictions will remain in place until he comes back to the board for a face-to-face hearing in September 2018 and by the end of September 2018 at the latest."The board expects by then that he will have completed his safety planning with the probation officer and he will need to discuss that with the board at the hearing.'' The board is due to consider then whether any residential restrictions or any other form of monitored curfew would remain.

Jail for the Christchurch bar manager who arranged for the establishment where she worked to be robbed - twice. Joanne Smith has been sentenced to six years three months. As well as the two robberies of the Fitz Sports Bar, Smith took part in the robbery of the Law Courts Hotel in Dunedin with her son Joshua Smith. He was sentenced to five years when he appeared alongside his mother in the Christchurch District Court today . Almost $80,000 was stolen in the two raids on the Fitz Sports Bar in July and October last year.

A body found in the water at a popular Bay of Plenty waterfall has sparked a homicide investigation. Detective Inspector Lewis Warner said police launched the homicide investigation because a body was found in suspicious circumstances. Police received a report of a body in the water below McLaren Falls Bridge on McLaren Falls Rd in Tauranga about 11.30am yesterday. The body had not yet been identified and a forensic post mortem would take place today, Warner said. He said the investigation was in its early stages and police would like to hear from anyone who saw suspicious activity on McLaren Falls Rd yesterday. Call Tauranga Police on 07 577 4300 or anonymously phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you have information.

A Whangarei woman using a multitude of fake profiles on Facebook scammed people of nearly $12,000 for concert tickets which never existed Bells Pou, Lulu Amberlee, Abby Knight, Lydia Mark and Hannah Johnson were some of the names 22-year-old Lulu Amberlee Pou, of Raumanga, used when she sold fake tickets through Facebook to Rhythm and Vines, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars and Macklemore concerts. She sold tickets between October 2017 and February 2018. Her cover was blown when more than 25 victims contacted police and an investigation revealed her scam. Pou failed to appear in Whangarei District Court on Friday for sentencing and a warrant was issued for her arrest. She had previously pleaded guilty to 25 charges of obtains by deception, with 13 of the charges relating to amounts under $500 and 12 charges to amounts between $500 and $1000. Pou communicated with people wanting the tickets through Facebook Messenger, giving them a bank account to pay the money into. Once the payment was received, Pou cut all communication and the concert tickets never arrived. Pou sold two tickets to Rhythm and Vines for $1100 to one victim and tickets to Ed Sheeran cost another victim $380, while another dished out $525 for three tickets to Bruno Mars. Pou told police she used two of her own Facebook pages as well as creating fake profiles to fraudulently obtain the money. Police said concert tickets were hot items but so too were stolen cell phones and tablets. "If it's a deal that looks too good to be true on Facebook then it probably involves stolen items," Sergeant Grant Rouse, of Whangarei Police, said. Rouse said excessive amounts of stolen phones were being offered for sale on Facebook and police had noted an increase in the amount of stolen property being offered through social media groups and pages. "Buyer beware. If you are going to deal with people on Facebook, get a contact number for them and organise a face-to-face pick up if possible. Ideally view and inspect items before paying or there is any exchange of money.""If they are saying its new and an unwanted gift, they should have a receipt to prove if was purchased." Police had also noted people were using plenty of fake identities when they were selling items.

A man has been charged in connection with the homicide of a Ngāruawāhia man found dead in McLaren Falls. Mitchell Curtis Rehua Paterson, 26, was found dead in water below the McLaren Falls bridge about 11.30am on Friday. James Lee Green, 27, of Rangiuru in Western Bay of Plenty, has been charged with being an accessory after the fact to the murder of Paterson, a member of the Greazy Dogs motorcycle gang, by helping dispose of his body in order for another man to avoid arrest. He also faces an additional charge of driving while disqualified at Cambridge on Friday. The document also names another man believed to be a "party to murder" who the Heraldbelieves police are still seeking. Green is understood to have been arrested during an Armed Offenders Squad raid on a Pohutukawa Dr, Hamilton, property on Sunday evening, along with two other men who also appeared in the Hamilton District Court this afternoon. Police at the McLaren Falls Bridge near Tauranga where Mitchell Paterson's was found in the water early Friday. Photo / File The second man arrested in the raid was 52-year-old Leon Colin Wilson from Hamilton who faces charges of presenting a firearm against a member of police and unlawful possession of a loaded sawn-off shotgun. Grant Wickins, a 33-year-old Hamilton man, was also arrested on an outstanding warrant from Dargaville District Court. He was remanded in custody overnight without plea to reappear tomorrow. The Pohutukawa Dr house remained under police guard today. Police had also set up a caravan outside the property and cordoned off the house as they carried out their inquiries. Police have not responded to Herald requests for comment.

A Tauranga office manager who stole $50,000 from her employer to feed her gambling habit has been sentenced to four months' home detention and must pay back all of the money. Sharon Benita Whittle, 54, of Bellevue, was sentenced in the Tauranga District Court yesterday after she earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of theft by a person in a special relationship. The court heard Whittle was employed as an office manager by Sportcraft Marine Limited in Mount Maunganui for about three years. Her duties included doing the banking, balancing the till and helping ensure the PAYE was paid to Inland Revenue on time. On June 20, 2016, Whittle took a customer refund card and used it to obtain a refund which she paid into her own bank account. She also used the refund card a further 176 times between June 20, 2016, and February 28 this year and paid the money into her multiple personal bank accounts. Whittle, who attended a restorative justice meeting with one of the company directors, admitted paying herself refunds totalling $50,000, the court heard. Lawyer David Bates told Judge David Cameron she was was "incredibly remorseful" for her actions and had already repaid $17,198. Bates said Whittle was committed to paying the rest back as quickly as possible at $500 a month despite still looking for work. Judge David Cameron told Whittle the starting point must be imprisonment. But given her guilty plea, the extent of remorse she had shown, and offer to pay full reparation, he was prepared to grant home detention, the judge said. Judge Cameron noted Whittle had also undertaken counselling since her offending and attended a restorative justice meeting with company director Jamie Black. Judge Cameron told Whittle the victim impact statements made sad reading. "It's clear your actions have caused extreme stress to Mr Black and his late wife, and this has been a tumultuous event in their lives and left the company in financial difficulties. "Mr Black has been left in an appalling situation, and the extent of the emotional harm he and his late wife have suffered cannot be understated in this case," the judge said. Judge Cameron ordered Whittle to pay $32,302.36 reparation at $500 a month, with the first instalment due in 14 days time. It was not the first time Sportcraft Marine Limited has been the victim of a substantial theft by a trusted employee. In February 2015, Dionne Michelle Guinness was jailed for two-and-half years after she stole $352,698.45 between 2010 and 2014. On appeal, Guinness was ordered to pay back $50 a week over a five year period. Outside court, Black told the Bay of Plenty Times Whittle was aware of Guinness' offending when joining the company which, in his view, made her actions even worse. However, Black said he accepted Whittle's expression of remorse appeared sincere.

A child sex offender has been sent back to jail for illegally using a cellphone in breach of prison release conditions. Michael John Kight, who turns 26 in September, used the phone to call police last month and inquiries revealed he had also used the phone for other purposes. Back in custody since his arrest, he appeared before Judge Arthur Tompkins yesterday in Napier District Court and was sentenced to a further three months' jail on a raft of charges. Three of the charges involved breaching conditions of his release from prison and one each of providing misleading information to the child sex offenders' register team, and possession of a pipe for the use of methamphetamine. Kight had been released from Rimutaka Prison on February 28, after serving part of a sentence of one year and 11 months for offences revealed after a dating app user told police of Kight's discussions about wanting to abduct and sexually abuse young boys. Those offences included sending objectionable material to a police officer posing online as a 14-year-old male. Kight made his call to police in Wellington on May 26, but later denied having had the phone. He was arrested at Hawke's Bay Airport on June 8 after police had been told of an abusive text message he had sent to a family in Hawke's Bay. Kight made national headlines in February 2010 and was jailed for 12 months when he stole a $280,000 Audi from a family friend before crashing at 250km/h. Then aged 17, he pleaded guilty in Napier District Court to a spate of offences including burglary, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, unlawful possession of a firearm, dangerous driving, driving while forbidden and driving while intoxicated. All those charges arose from a whirlwind two hours of drunken offending on October 7 where he entered a friend's house, stole sunglasses, designer watches, jewellery, laptop computers, cell phones, cameras and other electrical goods. He also uplifted two shotguns, a .22 rifle, BB-gun and over $500 in foreign currency. He loaded the goods into a V8-powered Audi R4 sedan parked in the garage and drove off. Two hours later, travelling in excess of 250km/h, he lost control of the car on Farndon Rd and smashed into a barrier. His then lawyer, Roger Philip, told the court his client had considerable mental health issues, and there were no medical institutions in New Zealand that could deal with his needs. Kight's parents had spent $500,000 on private rehabilitative schools as far afield as the United States and Samoa.

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