Man pushed shop assistant to take tobacco

A 23-year-old man who pushed past a shop attendant to steal tobacco was sentenced to home detention this week. Ngamataora Tai Mana Hira Makitae, unemployed, appeared in the Invercargill District Court before Judge Kevin Phillips yesterday for sentence for robbing a person of several pouches of tobacco on March 10. He was sentenced to seven months' home detention and ordered to pay $346.30 reparation. Judge Phillips said Makitae and a group of friends went in and out of the Tay St Night 'n Day store asking to buy tobacco just before 1am on March 10. Makitae went in and asked for three packets of tobacco but left when a member of the public came into the shop. He waited outside and came back in and moved behind the counter, where there was a confrontation between him and the 56-year-old female shop assistant, Judge Phillips said. Makitae pushed past her, took nine pouches of tobacco and fled, he said. The shop assistant contacted police and when spoken to Makitae said he was not the mastermind behind the robbery. Crown lawyer Riki Donnelly accepted the level of violence was at the lower end of the scale. Assault Shane Antony Manuel, 21, farmer, was remanded on bail to August 27 for sentence for assaulting a female and breaching a protection order on July 1. An 18-year-old man, who has interim name suppression, was remanded on bail to August 7 for sentence for assaulting a female on March 23. Assaults child A man, who has interim name suppression, was remanded on bail to August 6 for sentence for assaulting a child and behaving in a threatening manner on July 1. The court was told the man pushed a child in the ribs causing bruising. the man told police he had "just lost it." Breach Eugene Nicholas Wikitera was remanded on bail to August 28 for compliance for breaching community work on June 8. Michael George Mulligan, 27, was sentenced to 60 hours' community work for breaching community work on June 20. Driving Jessie Whatuira was sentenced to 50 hours' community work for driving while suspended. Judge Phillips found special reasons not to disqualify Whatuira from driving. Angelina Simeon Heita, 19, was remanded on bail to August 13 for sentence for driving while disqualified and with a breath alcohol level of 350mcg (under 20) on July 18. Karl James Schutt, 25, mill hand, of Riverton, was sentenced to four months' community detention, 100 hours' community work and disqualified for one year and one month for driving while disqualified at Riverton on June 5.