An 18-year-old man retaliated to being knocked off his motorcycle in a two-vehicle crash in Rarotonga by inflicting more than $2000 in damage on the opposing driver’s car.

Ngatokorua Otaria Bertma Metuaarea and his girlfriend suffered minor scratches when their motorcycle was struck by a car and thrown to the ground, prompting a “frustrated” Metuaarea to approach the vehicle of the driver who hit them and smash its front and rear windows, Justice of the Peace Tangi Taoro said.

The offending occurred on the main road through Arorangi, about 6.30pm on May 15, 2023.

When invited to speak in the Criminal Court in Rarotonga on Tuesday, Metuaarea asked JP Taoro not to send him to jail because “my missus is pregnant and due in two months” and he wanted to be able to support her.

JP Taoro sentenced Metuaarea to 12 months’ probation and ordered him to pay $2380 in reparation for the damage caused to the complainant’s car.

He had pleaded guilty to wilful damage on October 10.

“The court notes yours and your mother’s frustrations as to what happened,” JP Taoro said.

“Your mother describes you as a good son, and you are her only help around the home. Your actions were out of character.”

JP Taoro noted Metuaarea’s “frustration” with the fact the complainant had not been charged in relation to the crash, or made to pay reparations for damage to the motorcycle – advising that he file a report with Police, as it was not the court’s role to lay charges.

JP Taoro noted that Metuaarea had been living with his mother and three siblings while his partner had a job at a meat works in New Zealand.

Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Fairoa Tararo said the wilful damage charge marked Metuaarea’s first time before the court for a criminal offence, though he had appeared on two traffic offences last year.

JP Taoro said the conditions of Metuaarea’s sentence were to attend training and workshops as directed by Probation, and to not leave the Cook Islands without approval from the High Court.

Metuaarea was ordered to pay $50 in court costs.