Alexandra police arrested nine people and dealt with three intoxicated drivers during the weekend as the "silly season" moved into top gear.
Sergeant Ian Kerrisk said all those arrested were intoxicated and their alleged offending related to alcohol consumption.
About 2am on Saturday, two intoxicated 17-year-old women were allegedly assaulted by a 33-year-old Southland man as they walked along Centennial Ave near Brandon St.
Both received bruising and abrasions - neither required medical attention but both were extremely shocked by the attack, Sgt Kerrisk said.
They were thrown on to the ground and assaulted by the man until another female walking home intervened and the man ran away.
Police found the man hiding nearby and charged him with two counts of assaulting a female, resisting police, and possessing a knife.
Sgt Kerrisk said police were satisfied the attack was not sexually motivated.
The man was taken into custody and appeared in the Queenstown District Court later on Saturday; he was remanded on bail to appear in the Alexandra District Court on Wednesday.
About the same time, police were told a 79-year-old Alexandra man was terrified when a 38-year-old Poolburn man repeatedly tried to enter his Orchard Dr home.
After fleeing the property, the Poolburn man was found by police and charged with being unlawfully on a property.
Sgt Kerrisk said police were satisfied the alleged offender had no sinister intent but the elderly home owner was very shaken.
Other incidents reported in Alexandra during the weekend:
• A large number of intoxicated teenagers and people in their early twenties left a Ngapara St party and allegedly caused damage to letterboxes and shrubbery on their way through town.
• A 17-year-old Alexandra man was charged with breaching the liquor ban and resisting police.
• A 20-year-old man and 28-year-old woman from Alexandra were charged with disorderly behaviour after allegedly throwing bottles from a moving vehicle at a Royal Tce home.
• An intoxicated 20-year-old Alexandra woman was knocked unconscious after falling head-first on to concrete while being piggy-backed by an intoxicated female friend on Centennial Ave. She was taken by ambulance to Dunstan Hospital.
• A 17-year-old Alexandra man was charged with assault during an alleged dispute between Royal Tce neighbours.
• A 23-year-old Alexandra man was charged with disorderly behaviour, resisting police and wilful damage; he had been with a group walking into town.
• Two Alexandra men aged 20 and 28 were charged with disorderly behaviour at a licenced premises.
• Two 17-year-olds and a 23-year-old were processed for drink-driving.
Sgt Kerrisk warned that with the holiday season approaching, police would continue to take a hard line on alcohol-related offending.
