Offer of police help spurned by offender
An anti-drink-driving video produced by an Amberley man while in prison on remand for an ugly, violent incident is now being used around schools.
“It’s a very good production,” said defence counsel Paul Johnson at the Christchurch District Court sentencing for Reece James Dick-Durham, a 24-year-old with a chequered past, who has been struggling with alcohol and anger issues.
Those issues have made him an incredibly unpleasant person, according to Judge Raoul Neave, who recognised their origins in May 2010 when Dick-Durham survived a terrible crash at Woodend.
He was a passenger in a car that was steered into the path of a bus by another passenger, Worthy Redeemed. Three people were killed in the crash. At subsequent court appearances on various charges, Dick-Durham said he had been diagnosed as suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.
“Life has dealt you a considerable blow,” said Judge Neave. “I refer to the accident in which a number of your friends were killed.”
Since then, Dick-Durham had gone out of his way to make his own life and everyone else’s “as miserable as they could possibly be”.
The latest incident involved Dick-Durham abusing and threatening a local policeman who had tried to help him when he had got in trouble earlier, including finding him a job.
After that offending, which again involved him threatening the policeman, he got home detention but failed at the sentence and was eventually jailed.
The officer’s victim impact statement to the court about the latest incident said he had tried to help Dick-Durham but had received nothing but ingratitude, abuse and threats. “He is distressed at having his assistance thrown back in his face in this fashion,” said Judge Neave.
It seemed impossible for Dick-Durham to manage his anger, jealousy, and resentment. “You have made yourself into an incredibly unpleasant person,” said the judge.
The latest incident happened in Amberley on December 19 when Dick-Durham was drunk at the service station and began abusing people. He then went to a hotel, where he was refused entry because he was too drunk.
He then issued more abuse and threats, and he punched a glass car sales sign nearby, smashing it and causing $200 damage. He then stood in the middle of State Highway 1 trying to punch trucks as they drove past, while he was yelling and screaming.
Police arrived and arrested Dick-Durham, but he lashed out while being handcuffed and punched two officers causing cuts, bruises, and abrasions. He threatened the officers and Judge Neave said he imagined they took the threats seriously.
In an earlier incident, Dick-Durham had threatened to firebomb one of their houses.
The judge noted positive work, including an alcohol and drugs course that Dick-Durham had done while on remand for eight months, and he then imposed a sentence that will see him released within a few weeks.
The 18-month jail term will be followed by six months of special release conditions which will include a recommendation for counselling. He will also have to pay for the sign he smashed.
Dick-Durham had admitted charges of intentional damage, disorderly behaviour, threatening to kill, and assaulting two police to try to get away after a crime.
Category: News
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