Vicious attacker locked up again

David Stephenson, who was released from prison in May after serving just over nine months of a 20-month sentence for viciously beating a taxi driver, has attacked again.
Less than four months after he was freed on May 25, the 20-year-old broke the nose of man because he didn't like the way he spoke to his friend.
Yesterday, Stephenson, who appeared before Judge Louis Bidois in Tauranga District Court, was jailed for seven months after he earlier pleaded guilty to a raft of charges.
The charges were five of theft from cars, one each of common assault, theft of property, possession of pipe for smoking cannabis, and a breach of release conditions.
According to the summary of facts between August 27 and September 28 this year Stephenson broke into five cars in Mount Maunganui and stole $3210 worth of items including stereos, locksmith tools and personal property.
Then on September 12 he stole a $500 lawnmower from a property in Haukore St, Maungatapu and in the early hours of September 13 assaulted a man at his friend's address in Poike Rd.
Stephenson, who had been drinking with a group at the address, took exception to the way his friend was spoken to by another man who lived at the address and punched him, breaking his nose.
He told police he was angry because his victim was trying to move out without paying his rent and acted out of concern for his friend.
His lawyer Liz Jamieson told Judge Bidois that there was little she could say in mitigation for her client's offending and there was a "sense of inevitability" to his sentence, and the judge agreed.
Ms Jamieson said Stephenson's mother, who was in the public gallery to support her son, was finding it extremely difficult to remain supportive unless he was prepared to do something about his substance abuse.
Judge Bidois told Stephenson that his seven-month sentence would have been much longer if it was not for his "youthfulness", his early guilty pleas and family support.
He wanted to leave Stephenson with a sense there was some light at the end of tunnel, the judge said.
Once freed from prison Stephenson will be subject to six months of special release conditions.
They include compulsory attendance at drug and alcohol and violence prevention counselling programmes as directed by his probation officer.
On July 24 last year Stephenson attacked Don Clark, 63, as he dropped off schoolchildren outside Tauranga Girls' College. He dragged him from his van, head-butted and punched him and accused him of hitting him with his taxi.
The CitiCabs owner, who suffered a fractured skull and eye socket and had his nose reattached, was only able to return to work last month because of his horrific injuries.
Mr Clark told the Bay of Plenty Times he believed everyone deserved a second chance but said Stephenson has had more than his fair share of chances.
"I feel sorry for the guy Stephenson attacked as if he had served his whole 20 months he wouldn't have been injured.
"I'm not sorry he has gone back inside as he should be in prison and not get any privileges again. I reckon people should serve their full sentence."