Tequila shots land man in strife for motel damage
A Whangarei man who smashed up his Christchurch motel room after spending $300 on tequila shots, causing more than $5000 worth of damage, has been sentenced to community work and ordered to pay more than $1000 in reparation.
Benjamin Easterbrook, 33, appeared for sentencing in the Whangarei District Court on Monday after pleading guilty to a charge of wilful damage.
Judge Greg Davis said Easterbrook returned to his motel room on October 29, heavily intoxicated, to find he had lost his room key.
The judge said Easterbrook became abusive and aggressive towards the motel staff and when he got back into his room smashed the place up, including scrawling offensive words on the bedroom wall. "You said you did it because you had been locked out of your room."
The judge said the repairs cost more than $5000, but the insurance excess and cost of a replacement key left the motel owners out of pocket by $1086.
Defence lawyer Wiremu Puriri said Easterbrook had no recollection of the incident and was remorseful.
Mr Puriri said the first thing Easterbrook knew something was amiss was when he saw that he had spent $300 the previous night on tequila shots.
Judge Davis sentenced Easterbrook to 40 hours' community work and ordered him to pay $1086 reparation to the motel within 14 days.
