A man has been sentenced to more than four years in jail after an attack which left a Rotorua teenager blind in one eye.
Shane Arron Kanara was sentenced in the Hamilton District Court today to four years and five months in jail on a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He had previously admitted five charges including wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and assault with intent to injure.
The victim lost the use of her right eye after her eye socket was broken and eyelid torn. She also had partial loss of vision in her left eye because of it.
The attack happened when the pair went away for the weekend with Kanara to visit his family - the first time she had been on this kind of stay away from home.
The victim's mother texted her that night at just before 9pm and when her daughter did not reply the mother became worried. She texted again at 11.08pm then again at 11.11pm and when she received a reply of 'yep' she knew it was not her daughter and something was wrong, the court heard.
The victim hid when police went to the address for an unrelated matter and Kanara, who was asked about blood on his hands, said he had cut himself.
The girl was eventually found by Kanara's family, who called her family and emergency services.
Crown prosecutor Sheila Cameron said Kanara showed no empathy and was "still denying that his actions led to the blindness of the victim".
Ms Cameron said Kanara was at high risk of reoffending because of his intoxication at the time of assault.
Defence lawyer Gerard Walsh said Karana wanted a future for the victim.
"He accepts that it was a terrible act."
Judge Denise Clark said Kanara's probation report was not a good one.
"I thought last time [in court] you showed a coldness in the way you acted on that evening toward the victim."
She suggested Kanara did not accept responsibility for his actions.
"It appeared [remorseful] comments made were because of the predicament you are in."