Synthetic pot fuelling crime

Offending sparked by synthetic cannabis habits continues to be a problem in Oamaru, a judge said yesterday.

"It's a problem which comes before this court again and again and again in this area," Judge Joanna Maze said.

In Oamaru District Court yesterday, Judge Maze convicted and sentenced Hezekiah Soloman Hoterini, an unemployed Oamaru man, to a 15-month prison sentence for assaulting Oamaru police Constable Stuart Dowling, with intent to obstruct him in the execution of his duty on December 23.

The court was told that the 25-year-old became aggravated and angry after consuming a mix of synthetic cannabis and alcohol.

Constable Dowling was called to the house where Hoterini was boarding after he threw a mobility scooter to the ground and punched a hole in the wall.

Hoterini, agitated by police presence, threw the mobility scooter again, this time at the officer, only "narrowly missing" him.

As Dowling reached to place Hoterini's second hand in cuffs, he threw the constable to the ground.

As a result of a struggle, the officer received injuries that prevented him from working.

Further tests revealed the extent of the injuries was much more serious, with a gouge to the head of the upper arm bone and a fracture to the shoulder.

Defence counsel Ngaire Alexander said Hoterini's behaviour became "rather bizarre" after consuming synthetic cannabis.

"Synthetic cannabis is not good for him and doesn't do anything for his behaviour," she said.

Hoterini said he was upset and angry at the time, but admitted that was no excuse for the incident.

At restorative justice meetings, Hoterini expressed genuine remorse, but synthetic cannabis continued to be a "very real" problem for him, Judge Maze said.

"You apologised, but it seemed you are still using synthetic cannabis," she said.

Alcohol abuse was also a contributing factor.

The need for denunciation and deterrence was "particularly strong", Judge Maze said.