Man who tried to drive off with victim jailed

Faamasino Faamasino in Waitakere District Court this afternoon. Photo / Supplied

A man who attacked a woman in her car and tried to drive away with her during a "terrifying incident" has been jailed for 20 months.

Faamasino Faamasino, 23, appeared in Waitakere District Court this afternoon after pleading guilty to charges of assault with intent to rob, unlawful interference with a vehicle and assault.

The 18-year-old victim was driving home through New Lynn from one of her two jobs on the night of April 22, when she stopped at red lights.

Faamasino -- who was assisted in court by a Samoan interpreter -- "aggressively approached" the driver's door and found it locked.

However, he was able to unlock it by reaching through the open window before the frightened teenager shouted at him and drove away.

She eventually pulled over on Great North Rd, thinking she had spooked the assailant, and tried to call police.

But before she got through Faamasino ripped open her door and punched her twice in the face.

He forced the victim over to the passenger seat and tried to close the door several times as she battled to keep it open.

"At no point did you try to pull her out of the car," Judge Glubb said.

Faamasino tried to accelerate but the car was in neutral and the teen put her hand on the gearstick to stop him driving off.

That again sparked the defendant's rage as he strangled her and it was only when a group of men came to her rescue that he stopped.

"The timely intervention of those good Samaritans effectively saved the victim that night," Judge Glubb said.

Konrad Berking and Barrie Olsen were among the group that heard the screams while they were playing games at a nearby internet cafe.

"My main concern was her safety, she got out and her face was a bit bloody and there was strangulation marks ... it was quite surreal," Mr Berking told the Herald shortly after the incident.

Others chased Faamasino -- who was described by the judge as "solid and powerfully built" -- and managed to catch and detain him until police arrived.

"He was a big boy, but we have some big boys here, too," Mr Olsen said.

Konrad Berking (left) and Barrie Olsen are two of the men who interrupted the attack. Photo / Jason Oxenham

The victim was hospitalised for five hours with injuries including bruising and scratches to her neck and the judge said the ordeal had a traumatic impact.

"This must have been a terrifying incident for this young woman," Judge Glubb said.

"You made deliberate and persistent attempts to make off with her in her car. Your motivation, while unclear, is of grave concern."

Defence counsel Andrew Rice said his client's offending was driven by alcohol and he was truly remorseful, but that was disputed by the judge.

In a pre-sentence interview with probation, Faamasino said he accepted the police version of events but then said he remembered nothing of the incident.

"The report writer notes your version of events was full of inconsistencies, minimisations and completely devoid of any ownership."

Mr Rice urged the court to consider a sentence of home detention but Judge Glubb said nothing short of jail would sufficiently protect the public.