KEY POINTS:
A gang member who 'got his patch' after attacking a rival gang member and a prison guard had 5-1/2 years added to his jail sentence today.
Paul Cloke, 24, appeared for sentencing in the Wellington District Court after pleading guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily
harm and one charge of wounding with reckless disregard.
Judge Bruce Davidson said Cloke was one of a group of four Mongrel Mob members who launched an attack on a senior Black Power member at Rimutaka Prison while under escort by a female guard.
The guard was a complainant in the case.
She knew the attack might happen and when it did she was incredibly brave, Judge Davidson said.
In a three minute attack, the Black Power gang member was stabbed seven times with a metal weapon fashioned from a bucket handle.
The prison guard prevented far more serious injury by making a human shield out of herself and struggling with the others, Judge Davidson said.
The guard was stabbed in the lower back. The gang member was hospitalised with his injuries and required corrective surgery.
Cloke's lawyer Mike Antunovich told the court it seemed "crystal clear" prison authorities were aware of the planned attack, but let the victim back into the remand wing with the Mongrel Mob prisoners.
The prison officer said in a statement that the day before the attack she had received reliable information there was going to be bloodshed in a particular area of the prison the next day. It was clearly known who the victim would be, Mr Antunovich said.
The victim told police he knew there was a "a hit out on him", which related to an incident of kidnapping and torturing a Mongrel Mob member which led to his imprisonment.
Judge Davidson said Cloke denied using a weapon in the attack. There were four attackers and only two weapons were found.
He described the assault as a premeditated and organised.
Cloke has a number of convictions, mostly for burglary and dishonesty offences.
In 2004 he was jailed for 4-1/2 years.
At the time of the attack he was a gang prospect and became a patched member as a result of the attack, Judge Davidson said.
"Until you sever your ties with the Mongrel Mob you will simply go back to prison time and time again," Judge Davidson warned.
He said Cloke's guilty pleas and a lack of a history of violence were mitigating factors.
I n a white singlet with gang affiliated tattoos clearly visible, Cloke sighed loudly when Judge Davidson imposed a sentence of 5-1/2 years jail, cumulative to his current sentence.
- NZPA
