Pair jailed over unprovoked attack

Two men pleaded guilty and were sentenced to jail in the Hastings District Court.

Two men seeking alcohol and drugs broke into the house of a Hastings man and viciously assaulted him after he told them he could not supply them with anything.

The pair, Joshua Clarke, 24, and Jason Stewart Gemmell, 42, were sentenced to imprisonment on Monday in the Hastings District Court after pleading guilty to injuring with intent.

Gemmell had a charge of aggravated robbery withdrawn and was sentenced to one year and nine months' imprisonment.

Clarke was also convicted on a burglary charge and was sentenced to two years and three months' imprisonment.

A summary of facts said the pair went to a Hastings address at 8.15pm on November 15 and demanded alcohol and drugs from the occupant, who told them he didn't have anything to give them and locked the door.

Clarke then forced the door open, breaking the lock, and dragged the victim down the hall and outside. He was then thrown against a tree as the pair began punching him, kicking him and assaulting him with a wine bottle and an iron bar.

The victim suffered cuts and bruising to his face and a black eye. He also sustained bruising to his back and shoulders.

When the pair had finished assaulting the victim, Clarke went inside the house and took food from the freezer and some alcohol before riding off on a bike that belonged to a friend of the victim.

Clarke's lawyer, Eric Forster submitted there should be some consideration for remorse.

Judge Jonathan Down said there could be no reduction for remorse as he did not agree it was evident.