Prison for club goer who stomped victim's head

Friday, February 10, 2012 11:44

A Hastings man who was told his singlet and steel-capped boots were not appropriate attire for nightclubbing reacted by punching a doorman to the ground and stamping on his head, despite the intervention of the attacker's own friends.

In the Napier District Court yesterday, a remorseful and "appalled" Anthony Lee Tewhakaara, 25, was sentenced to 18 months' jail on a charge of injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Tewhakaara had admitted the October 7 assault, having claimed the offence occurred while he was under the influence of the drug P and that he had since set about making significant changes in his life.

Judge Tony Adeane declined defence counsel Richard Stone's bid for a sentence of home detention, having already administered a three-strikes warning, telling Tewhakaara if he committed another "qualifying" offence he could be sentenced to jail without parole, and if more offending followed he could be sentenced to the maximum possible, also without parole.

The incident happened as Tewhakaara approached the entrance of Billy's Bar in Hastings.

When told he could not be admitted, he punched the doorman, hooked him again as the man lost his balance and fell to the ground, and then ignoring friends' attempts to restrain him, stamped on the victim's head.

The injuries were mainly abrasions and bruising, but the judge noted they could have been much more serious.