Hockey player jailed after assault and hit and run

Prasant Nathoo. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A provincial hockey player who ran a woman over in his car and almost severed her leg has been jailed for three years and three months.

Prasant Nathoo, 24, had pleaded guilty to six charges in relation to beating a prostitute with his hockey stick and then running down a woman in his car on Ponsonby Rd.

Nathoo had also been involved in a road rage incident. After becoming frustrated with another driver on a narrow stretch of road, Nathoo followed the man home and threatened him with his hockey stick, striking the ground, his own car and the man's car.

In her sentencing, Judge Allison Sinclair said one month after the road rage incident, Nathoo stopped and picked up a sex worker in central Auckland.

He drove to a secluded place and took his clothes off but the sex worker felt uncomfortable with his "forceful" behaviour and asked to get out.

Judge Sinclair said Nathoo asked the sex worker: "How would you like a softball bat around your head?"

At the Auckland District Court today, Judge Sinclair said Nathoo then reached into his back seat and pulled out his hockey stick. The woman ran and Nathoo chased her with his stick, hitting her several times in the head.

He left her unconscious on Ponsonby's Franklin Rd.

Nathoo then drove up to Ponsonby Rd. He had been drinking and later told police that he had a flat tyre after hitting what he thought to be a rubbish bin.

But Nathoo had instead hit Lynette Kilmartin, nearly severing her leg.

Ms Kilmartin told the court that she has been left disabled and still requires medical attention at least three times a week.

"I still vomit, faint and cry every time I go through this ordeal. Nobody can imagine how painful it is - both physically and mentally," she told the court.

Ms Kilmartin, an aerobics instructor and body-builder until she was hit by Nathoo, said he did not deserve to be a hockey representative and was not a good role-model.

Nathoo's lawyer Geoff Anderson told the court that his client was remorseful and had sought help for his anger and alcohol dependency.

Mr Anderson acknowledged the victim impact statement from Ms Kilmartin but said Nathoo's family were also suffering.

"All that we have heard today is negative. His life has been ruined. Her life has been affected as well," Mr Anderson said, referring to Ms Kilmartin.