A Dunedin man who embarked on a seven-month meth-fuelled spree of threats and violence was "simply out of control", a judge says.
Braden Ray Ward (23) appeared before the Dunedin District Court this week convicted of a slew of charges, an experience Judge David Robinson hoped would be "one heck of a wake-up call" to the defendant.
The wayward conduct began in June last year when Ward saw a convicted sex offender with whom he previously attended school.
After yelling at the victim, he parked in Ward St and aimed punches and kicks at the man, none of which connected.
Just weeks later Ward saw the same victim again, this time with his stepfather in Corstorphine.
"Your son’s a paedophile," he told the man, challenging him to a fight.
When the victim intervened, Ward punched him in the face then took off his shirt and adopted a "fighting stance".
The defendant was unrepentant when interviewed by police and said he would attack the victim again if he got the chance.
Later, he put his behaviour down to his methamphetamine consumption, an explanation backed up by his associates.
One provided a statement to the court saying Ward had been "losing the plot" through his use of the class A drug.
In November, the man was driving around with a friend when a dispute arose with another motorist.
His mate forced the other car off the road as Ward gestured at them while wielding a wooden bat.
He dragged the driver out of the vehicle and took off in his car.
Judge Robinson said Ward was "extraordinarily fortunate" to be charged with intimidation rather than aggravated robbery.
There was a dispute with workmates which resulted in another intimidation charge but his criminality peaked shortly before Christmas.
Ward had arranged for a parcel to be delivered to the home of an associate and when it did not arrive he became enraged.
He aimed most of his threats at the woman’s baby.
"I’ll jump on your kid’s head while I’m at it ... Kick your baby down the stairs type of s... ," he sent in a message.
The judge said the month Ward had spent behind bars and the last eight months on electronically monitored bail were a significant punishment alone.
"If I was to characterise the behaviour ... you were simply out of control," he said.
Ward was sentenced to four months’ community detention and nine months’ supervision and banned from driving for six months.
