A 35-year-old man who was removed from the Australia-New Zealand cricket test at Hagley Oval in February, was involved in a drunken road-rage incident 12 days later.
Luke Malcolm Geldard, an Australian expatriate who has served with the Australian Army, protested about being pushed in the face by a security guard at the cricket test when he was removed from the ground.
He laid a complaint with the police, saying he had been assaulted, and said he was very disappointed when the police decided not to charge the security guard.
Police said they intervened because Geldard resisted leaving the ground, and he was restrained and escorted from the venue. Attending officers described him as “intoxicated and argumentative”.
In the Christchurch District Court today, he pleaded guilty to six charges arising from a different incident on March 6, after he had become drunk at a wine and food festival in North Canterbury.
He admitted dangerous driving, drink-driving, three charges of assault, and wilful damage.
Judge Tony Couch remanded him on bail for a pre-sentence report, a possible restorative justice meeting, and sentencing on September 13.
Police said Geldard headed back to Christchurch from he festival about 5pm on March 6, with his partner and three-month-old child in the car. He had drunk wine and beer.
He drove at excessive speed through Belfast, swerving in and out of traffic, passing on the left, and tailgating. He collided with a median strip and temporarily lost control, before continuing on the Main North Road.
He tailgated a vehicle as he approached Styx Mill Road, and rear-ended the other car as it slowed for a red traffic light.
There was an argument about whose fault it was and other members of the public intervened to prevent Geldard driving away because of his manner of driving.
He did drive away by driving onto the left shoulder at speed, and dangerously close to the victim, the police said.
The victim followed Geldard’s vehicle and phoned the police.
Then Geldard stopped his car, got out and walked up to the victim’s vehicle. He shouted, “What’s your problem, what’s your problem,” as he punched him several times through the driver’s window.
The victim back-handed Geldard whose nose began to bleed. Geldard spat blood and spittle several times through the open window, where it landed on the victim and his 12-year-old daughter who was in the passenger seat. She became hysterical because of the continuing attack on her father.
The victim then drove off but Geldard chased the vehicle, kicking and hitting it, and damaged several panels. The repair bill is $7892.
A test taken by the police showed Geldard had 183mg of alcohol to 100ml of blood – more than twice the legal limit.
Both assault victims had their faces covered in Geldard’s blood and the driver had bruising and grazes from the assault. Geldard declined to comment.
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