A mobster with a violent history has more time to contemplate his actions after attacking a prison guard in August last year.
Mongrel Mob member Joseph Rikki Pritchard, 38, had been serving a sentence of preventive detention at Hawke's Bay Prison since November 2009 for grievous bodily harm. He appeared in
the Napier District Court yesterday facing more charges.
The sentence, used mainly for serious sex offenders, keeps offenders incarcerated until they no longer represent a risk to public safety, and Pritchard was to serve a minimum five years in jail before starting any process leading to release.
Pritchard has more than 20 convictions for violence, including injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He had been in prison after being found guilty for an attack on a man in a Hastings gang pad on June 8, 2008.
Appearing yesterday, Pritchard pleaded guilty to a charge of assault with intent to injure.
His lawyer, Tony Snell, said the charge arose from one punch on a prison guard and Pritchard was already serving a sentence of preventative detention.
Judge Geoff Rea said Pritchard had been a remand prisoner since August last year.
He had a disagreement with a corrections officer and without warning attacked the man, punching him in the head and forcing him backwards onto the ground.
The officer had his glasses broken and forced into his face and received a black eye, swelling around his face and had to take time off work. Judge Rea noted Pritchard's violent history and sentenced him to 18 months concurrent prison time.
