A former police officer has been convicted and ordered to pay $98 in reparations after assaulting a Lotto shop worker last year.
Stuart McLachlan, 68, was found guilty in the Hastings District Court last month after stuffing a Lotto ticket down the woman's shirt during a payment dispute.
McLachlan was a Napier City Council candidate in the October 2013 local body elections when the assault allegation came forward, Hawke's Bay Today reports.
He was $1.20 short when purchasing the Lotto ticket at a shop in Havelock North on March 9, 2013. When he refused to give back the ticket, shopkeeper Gale Harman attempted to stop him from leaving the store.
McLachlan then attempted to move towards a supermarket, where he said he was going to get the extra money. The incident escalated to pushing and shoving, after which McLachlan gave up the ticket by stuffing it down Ms Harman's shirt.
"When he was swearing at me spit was coming out of his mouth," said Ms Harman in court. "All I could think about was not falling on the ground because I didn't want him to the put the boot in."
At sentencing yesterday, McLachlan was ordered to pay $98 toward the victim's medical costs. The former policeman had applied for discharge without conviction, citing his service to the community and the affect a conviction would have on potential future employment.
The court heard McLachlan was dealing with problems in his life at the time, including health issues, his wife's death and the loss of his pension in investments.
Judge Bridget Mackintosh denied his application, saying future employers had "the right to know what did occur on this particular occasion".
Speaking to the Hawke's Bay Today, Ms Harman said she was pleased with the decision.
"It has been nearly 12 months. There have been lots of sleepless nights worried that I'm going to come across him in the street," she said.
McLachlan told Judge Mackintosh she "ought to be ashamed" of herself and said he intended to appeal the decision.
3 News
source: newshub archive
