A man caught out after curfew told Magistrates’ Court yesterday he was waiting for cigarettes.

Richard Dill, 52, pleaded guilty to a charge that he breached the 10pm to 6am curfew by being away from his home yesterday morning.

The court heard that at around 9.55pm on Wednesday, five minutes before curfew, police on patrol noticed two men talking on Court Street, Hamilton.

The officers warned the pair that they had to be home by curfew and continued on patrol.

The court heard the officers saw them sitting on a wall in the same area about 1.15am and soon approached them for questioning.

Dill told the officers: “I gave someone money to get me cigarettes and I’m not leaving until he comes back.”

Takiyah Simpson, for the prosecution, said a $3,000 fine was the appropriate penalty.

Dill’s parole officer said his client would struggle to pay a fine because he was unemployed and living in a shelter.

Magistrate Craig Attridge said the offence might be better dealt with through community service, but that was difficult to arrange because of pandemic restrictions. Mr Attridge adjourned the case for two weeks.

He released Dill on $3,000 bail and ordered him to observe the curfew.

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