Fake threat tied up responders

A Nelson man who phoned in a fake threat disrupted emergency services and prevented police from attending other callouts.

Roger Rewiti Hohaia, 49, appeared in the Nelson District Court on Monday via audiovisual link from prison, where he pleaded guilty to a range of charges. These included using a phone for fictitious purposes, shoplifting, and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and a bicycle.

At 11.45pm on June 28, Hohaia called ambulance services. He told the operator that he was going to shoot someone at his address in five minutes’ time.

About five minutes later he made a second call, threatening to beat up someone who owed him money, and reiterating his intention to shoot his intended victim.

An ambulance was dispatched to look for the victim. Police were also called to deal with the potential armed incident.

Hohaia was located on New St in Nelson, brandishing a ‘‘burning item’’ and threatening to burn someone’s car.

In subsequent months, Hohaia committed a series of other offences.

Judge Tony Zohrab convicted Hohaia on all the charges, and remanded him for sentencing on February 15. Reparation was sought by Mitre 10 Mega for $924.97 worth of unrecovered stolen property.