Man dressed as Tetris box sought over assault

File photo / NZ Herald

Police are seeking witnesses to a "vicious" assault at the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival, believed to have been carried out by a man dressed as a Tetris box.

The victim suffered a broken jaw, broken eye socket and cuts to his face in the March 10 assault.

He required surgery to have plates inserted into his face.

The attack happened about 6pm near toilets within the fenceline of Cass Square.

The offender was believed to be caucasian, aged about 25, and dressed as a Tetris box, from the popular video game.

He was with a group of young men leaving the festival.

Meanwhile, a man who was part of a group of 10 people who attacked three visitors dressed in NYPD uniforms at the festival has been labelled a "cowardly thug" by a judge in Greymouth District Court.

Damian Conway Wineera, 20, of Cobden was sentenced by Judge Emma Smith to 80 hours' community work and fined $450 yesterday after admitting charges of disorderly behaviour and assault arising from the attack.

Prosecutor sergeant Mark Harris, said the three victims, dressed up in New York police department uniforms, had been knocked to the ground and kicked repeatedly.

Wineera initially denied being involved but when presented with photographs taken by a bystander, admitted taking part.

Defence lawyer Eymard Bradley said Wineera had taken exception to one of his female friends being injured in an earlier incident but Judge Smith did not buy that explanation.

"You are nothing but a cowardly thug with a very nasty streak," she told Wineera.