I featured this ratbag some time ago…now the ratbag is before the courts again.
Unsuccessful Napier City Council candidate Stuart McLachlan has failed to appear in court on a charge of assault.
McLachlan, 67, was due to defend the charge yesterday in the Hastings District Court but did not show up.
Judge Jonathan Down issued a warrant for his arrest which was executed by police later in the day.
Police allege McLachlan assaulted a Havelock North lotto shop worker on March 9.
McLachlan appeared in court earlier in the year and said he “strenuously” denied the offending and would not accept diversion as it meant accepting some responsibility for the situation.
The charge came to light before the local government elections last month and McLachlan fought to have his name suppressed.

As much at home writing editorials as being the subject of them, Cam has won awards, including the Canon Media Award for his work on the Len Brown/Bevan Chuang story. When he’s not creating the news, he tends to be in it, with protagonists using the courts, media and social media to deliver financial as well as death threats.
They say that news is something that someone, somewhere, wants kept quiet. Cam Slater doesn’t do quiet and, as a result, he is a polarising, controversial but highly effective journalist who takes no prisoners.
He is fearless in his pursuit of a story.
Love him or loathe him, you can’t ignore him.
To read Cam’s previous articles click on his name in blue.