A Whakatane man who Judge Russell Callanders said "just lost it" has been given five months' community detention for threatening his fiancee and leading police on a high-speed chase.
Matthew Reginald Lankshear, 45, appeared for sentence in Whakatane District Court on four charges of driving while suspended, failing to stop, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, wilful damage, threatening behaviour and threatening to injure.
The charges related to three separate incidents starting in December last year.
Lankshear had his licence suspended in Otorohanga on December 4.
On December 14, police went to a domestic dispute in Edgecumbe, in the eastern Bay of Plenty, involving Lankshear's mother. Upset with the police response, he jumped in his vehicle but the driveway was blocked by a police car. He reversed into the patrol car's left rear door, causing $1725 of damage.
He sped off on his Harley Davidson motorcycle. When police later saw him on the motorcycle on State Highway 30 they tried to stop him, but he sped away in heavy traffic, using other vehicles to block his pursuers.
Police followed him to Whakatane where he maintained high speeds, and abandoned the chase when Lankshear sped along a footpath.
Lankshear said crashing into the patrol car had been accidental, but admitted trying to evade police in the chase saying he hadn't wanted his motorcycle to be impounded.
The charges of threatening related to incidents involving his fiancee in January.
Lankshear and the woman had been in Taupo on January 3 when they got into an argument. He had been working on a car and was holding a screwdriver, with which he threatened to stab her. Later that day, when the couple were back in Edgecumbe, another argument developed.
Lankshear asked for her engagement ring back and when she refused, he threatened to cut off her finger to get it.
Judge Callander told Lankshear that he had "just lost it" and he hoped he could get back on track.
As well as community detention, Lankshear was sentenced to nine months' supervision and 125 hours' community work. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay $1725 reparation for damage to the police car.
