A 16-year-old Blenheim youth who beat up four people after being asked to leave a party to which he wasn't invited has been jailed for three years.
Regan Andrew Belt's charges resulted from three separate incidents on the same night in March, including one where Belt beat two men with a
baseball bat, leaving one unconscious and bleeding.
Belt, a vineyard worker, had earlier pleaded guilty in Blenheim Youth Court to two charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, two of assault with intent to injure and one each of assault and possessing an offensive weapon.
Judge Paul Whitehead transferred sentencing to the District Court because of the seriousness of the offending.
Yesterday, Judge Whitehead said it gave him "no pleasure" to hand down a prison term to the 16-year-old, but said the unprovoked attacks involved serious violence and serious injury and therefore, deserved such a sentence.
The victims suffered injuries including a broken jaw, split ear, a serious eye wound and one had to have a plate inserted in his head.
"All expressed their shock at the unprovoked and vicious attack and feared for their lives," Judge Whitehead said.
Defence lawyer Philip Watson said Belt was remorseful for the assaults, which he described arose from a mixture of bravado and alcohol. Belt's mother had died early in his life and while that was not an excuse, it did explain some of his underlying anger.
Judge Whitehead said Belt was completely and totally out of control on the night in question.
"It is fortunate you are standing here facing grievous bodily harm charges and not murder," he said.
- NZPA
