City too damaged for cigarette butt hunter
James Tahere has given up on Christchurch and the city will have to get back on its feet without him.
From the Christchurch District Court dock today, the 43-year-old with dreadlocks to his knees announced: “I’m out of here today anyway. I’m leaving this place, Christchurch.”
He was ordered to pay $250 for the damage he admitted doing to a cigarette butt holder at the central city Bus Exchange.
He pleaded guilty to a wilful damage charge, and a charge failing to come to court while on bail.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Jeff Kay said Tahere had forced open the bin while he was at the Bus Exchange looking for cigarette butts. It caused damage to the lid and bracket.
“It was already loose anyway before I opened it up,” Tahere told the court. “This whole city is pretty much damaged.”
Tahere, of no fixed abode, then announced he was leaving the city.
At the suggestion of the police, Judge Simon Menzies imposed an order for Tahere to pay $250 as the only penalty.
Category: Observations
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