Full Breakdown
Laundrumat Owner Sentenced for Damage to Rival Business in Hamilton
8/15/2026, 4:01:36 AM
Background of the Dispute
Timothy Jeff Jeffs operates the Gull Whitikahu petrol station and seven laundromats in Hamilton, including the Hillcrest Self Service Laundromat on Cambridge Rd. In October 2023, Sachin Dhamija (known as Anand) opened a new laundromat, Maxaclean, on the same road. Jeffs was served with a trespass notice on October 6, 2023, after Dhamija alleged Jeff Jeffs had begun questioning the new venture. Jeffs responded with threats that the shop would be damaged if it opened.
Timeline of Incidents
- October 30, 2023 – CCTV captured Jeffs returning to the still-closed Maxaclean at 8:48 p.m., peering through the window.
- October 31, 2023 – Jeffs met Pooja Dhamija at her family home and told her the new laundromat was intended to take his customers.
- November 1, 2023 – Jeffs was seen at 9:43 p.m. examining the store, leaving briefly, and returning six minutes later to record video.
- November 6, 2023 – Two men, paid $250 by Jeffs, arrived armed with a handsaw and hammer, cut the gas pipelines and removed two gas heaters, leaving gas flowing overnight. The stolen heaters were never recovered.
- March 7, 2024 – Jeffs walked back and forth outside Maxaclean holding his phone and taking photos.
- June 11, 2024 – Jeffs spoke with a customer leaving Maxaclean for an extended period.
- July 4, 2024 – Jeffs stood outside the store from 8:19 p.m. to 9:18 p.m., repeatedly examining the premises.
Additional acts included graffiti on the storefront and the theft of a $325 flag the following month.
Court Findings and Sentencing
The Hamilton District Court found Jeffs guilty of theft, blackmail and intentional damage relating to the incidents from October 6, 2023, through July 2024. Judge Crayton noted that Jeffs had already accepted a sentence indication, indicating he expected a non-custodial outcome. The court imposed nine months of supervision, a maximum of six months community detention, a $1,000 payment toward property damage, and a $3,000 order for emotional-harm reparation to Sachin Dhamija, payable within seven days. Jeffs was also required to attend a non-violence programme or any other programme directed by his probation officer.
Community Impact and Conditions
The sentencing includes curfew conditions designed to limit Jeffs’ movements while allowing him to continue operating his petrol station, which closes at 7 p.m. and is a 33-minute drive from his residence. Morning curfews are set at 4:30 a.m. or 5 a.m., with night curfews of 8:15 p.m. or midnight, depending on the day. The court’s decision aims to prevent further intimidation of the Dhamijas while permitting Jeffs to maintain his existing businesses.
