Day in the Dock: Six broken windows, seven sets of car keys and one pound of silver

Wednesday, 10 June 2026

A man who smashed his way into a Te Kūiti home in the early hours of the morning, brandishing a crowbar in his victim’s bedroom, has shown “an inkling of insight” into his offending.

However, Judge Tini Clark appeared to take Richard Davey’s remorse letter with something of a pinch of salt, telling him: “It is sentencing day after all”.

Davey appeared for sentencing at Te Awamutu District Court on Tuesday for a laundry list of charges including burglary, intentional damage, reckless driving, unlawfully takes motor vehicle, threats to kill, receiving and assault on a person in a family relationship.

Judge Clark said the Te Kūiti burglary and intentional damage was the lead offending, and the police summary of facts outlined how, about 3.30am on September 11 last year, Davey attempted to steal two vehicles.

His attempts were thwarted, leading him to approach the property.

He “tampered” with their CCTV before using a crowbar to smash six windowpanes on an entrance door to gain access.

He then made his way to the victim’s bedroom and was “waving around a crowbar in his hand as he demanded the victim’s car keys”.

“The defendant said ‘where are the keys to the f…… car’,” the summary said.

The summary also noted the victim had a “safe box” bolted to a table near his bed, which Davey attempted to open by striking IT approximately six times with the crowbar.

The summary said his victim did not cooperate with Davey’s demands, so he took the safe box “still attached to the coffee table”.

“The safe box contained a total of seven sets of car keys for three vehicles, a key to a steering wheel lock and one pound of silver valued at $70”.

A separate summary of facts details how Davey was found behind the wheel of a stolen car on September 17 last year.

“In explanation the defendant stated that he had bought the vehicle using drugs as payment and knew it was stolen,” the summary said.

Judge Clark described Davey as “someone who is not compliant”, and noted that despite his young age he has “a significant criminal history”.

She described his remorse letter as “a belated realisation he had no right to do what he did”.

Sentencing Davey to 26 months’ imprisonment, she also referred to a bereavement he had suffered, noting his offending “cannot be excused by bereavement”.

“People would be disappointed AT you using your bereavement as an excuse to do what you want in the community,” she said.

“It’s just not on.”

Appearing via audiovisual link to face one charge of breach of release conditions, Ratapu Ranapia’s appearance quickly derailed.

Representing himself, Ranapia told Judge Clark “what needs to happen, I need my paperwork”.

Judge Clark said “I’m going to ask you to change your tone with me. I manage this court”.

Ranapia said “in my court, while I’m here” that he would not be muted.

He was then muted, but could be seen continuing to speak.

“He doesn’t appear to understand the situation he’s in. I won’t go toe to toe with someone in custody,” Judge Clark said.

She adjourned the matter to allow probation staff to ascertain what documents he required - but kept him on mute when he returned.

Not that that stopped him talking.

“He is simply interrupting, he is on mute which means I cannot hear a word he is saying,” said Judge Clark.

“I can see you’re agitated and still speaking, even though I cannot hear you.”

Judge Clark expressed concern, however, at how the matter could progress and said he may well have a case for being released on bail.

She requested a lawyer be appointed to assist the court ahead of his next appearance on June 22.

“That person may have some more luck than I have today communicating with him.”

Truck logbook offending landed Albert Taute his appearance, with his lawyer entering guilty pleas and requesting a fine for his client.

Judge Clark noted he exceeded his work day time limits and on eight occasions entered false particulars into his logbook.

She said he came to the attention of police after his involvement in a head-on collision, though she noted “he was not the person at fault, but came into focus as part of the investigation into that crash”.

Judge Clark noted Taute had explained his offending by saying he had “been forced to drive to different fuel stops due to the diesel shortages New Zealand was experiencing at the time”.

She sentenced Taute to two $500 fines, payable at $25 a week, and banned him from heavy vehicle driving for one month.

One charge of accessing a computer system for dishonest purposes landed Chloe Ann Mear her day in the dock.

Her lawyer entered a guilty plea but requested an amendment to the summary of facts, noting that while the facts were not in dispute, he did query “just what knowledge the co-defendant had”.

“There’s no dispute she took the money out of the account,” he said.

However, he said the word “encouragement” should be removed.

Judge Clark adjourned the matter.