Mother bashed in front of child

A  5-year-old autistic child looked on as his mother was brutally beaten in her home by three other women over rumours she had been seen in a car with the boyfriend of one of her attackers.
The attack, which occurred in Papamoa at about 9.45pm on September 23, began with Bianca Champion, 20, of Te Puke, punching the woman several times in the head.
Her blows were closely followed by punches from her two associates, Shannon Robinson, 17, and Maiora Ronaki, 18, also of Te Puke.
The victim suffered bruises to her head, face and jaw, and also had a large clump of hair pulled out of her head during the attack.
A drunk Champion, and Robinson, then took turns using a softball bat to smash up the woman's uninsured car, causing $1500 of damage.
Earlier in the evening, Champion had been drinking with associates in Te Puke and heard a rumour that the woman who she later attacked was seen with Champion's boyfriend in Champion's car.
Enraged, Champion and her two co-offenders, accompanied by a fourth person, headed to Papamoa.
Champion knocked on the woman's door, and when it was opened, Champion burst inside, followed by her two co-offenders.

A fourth person who stood at the door of the victim's home was not charged.
 
 All three were due to be sentenced in Tauranga District Court yesterday but only Champion turned up to court. Judge Peter Rollo issued warrants for the arrest of her two co-offenders.

 Lawyer Craig Tuck
 said Champion, who had worked for Affco for the past four years, was a valued employee and in all other respects was a contributing member of society. She could only put her offending down to her being incensed and fuelled by alcohol. She had already sent a letter of apology to her victim.
 

 Judge Rollo said there were significant aggravating factors to the offending including the fact it was a home invasion involving premeditated violence and was witnessed by the victim's young child. He told Champion that the ongoing impacts on the victim's child were difficult to gauge, given his medical condition.
Judge Rollo said: "Perhaps your attention should have turned to your boyfriend who was responsible for your disquiet, if indeed, the rumour was true."

 Champion was sentenced to five months and three weeks' home detention,  and 200 hours' community work.
She must pay $1250 to the victim - $750 for her half share of damage to the car and $500 emotional harm payment.